Statement of Sec. Alberto G. Romulo

During the Foreign Ministers' Working Meeting at the APEC Ministerial Meeting
16 November 2006, Ha Noi, Viet Nam 

We are here today in Ha Noi, as responsible members of the international community, to express the concern of our region over dangerous trends in global proliferation, and to promote dialogue to strengthen our common security. 

We are committed to diplomacy to safeguard peace. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder to defend that peace for all our countries in the spirit of solidarity. 

The apparent intention of Iran and of the DPRK to develop nuclear weapons capabilities is a source of global instability which may undermine our peace. 

For the DPRK to have nuclear weapons is one country too many, and for Iran to be similarly armed is two nations too much. 

We fully support UNSC Resolution 1695, the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement, and UNSC Resolution 1718. These key international agreements reflect the will of the international community and our common aim for a denuclearized Korean peninsula. 

We believe both the DPRK and Iraq have been offered real and substantial incentives to pursue peaceful nuclear programs. 

DPRK's missile and nuclear tests clearly violated its commitments to the international community. The Philippines condemns these acts in unequivocal terms. 

We welcome the resumption of the Six-Party Talks and the DPRK's expressed agreement to return to the Talks. The Six-Party Talks offer the most viable path to resolve differences on the nuclear issue through diplomacy and call for our full support. 

The international community insists that there be no unreasonable delay in the pursuit of this diplomatic process. To achieve concrete results, the Six-Party Talks must have a working and definite agenda, with timelines and verifiable measures that will reduce mutual suspicion and promote further confidence. 

We believe that, parallel to the Six-Party Talks, there should be no let-up in the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 1718 and the Proliferation Security Initiative. 

All parties concerned should ensure that the Six-Party Talks are productive. Our objective of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula is an imperative for peace and stability for the whole Asia-Pacific region. 

During its Chairmanship of the ASEAN Community, the Philippines will continue to work with other nations to attain peace and stability for the region. END

/jay

(Home)