Manila – As part of the on-going consultations on security issues between strategic partners, John R. Bolton, Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security of the U.S. State Department called on Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today to discuss a wide range of international security issues, including the current situation in Iraq and in the Korean peninsula.

Undersecretary Bolton is in the region to hold similar consultations with other leaders.  He paid a visit to the Philippines after stops in New Zealand and Malaysia. During his brief stay in Manila, the Mr. Bolton met with Foreign Secretary Blas F. Ople and before paying a courtesy call on the President.

While there were detailed discussions on the pressing international security issues, there were no detailed discussions or any specific requests during the Undersecretary’s call on Secretary Ople.

On Iraq, Mr. Bolton reiterated the determination of the U.S. government to ensure that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction.  He also talked about long-term plans of the U.S. in terms of an Iraq that is free from weapons of mass destruction.

On his part, Secretary Ople raised Philippine concerns for the safety of 1.5 million Filipinos in the Middle East. “The safety of the Filipinos in the Middle East is a primary concern of the Philippine Government,” Ople said.  “While we are prepared for a possible conflict, it is our hope that should such a conflict break out, it will be a short one and one that will not affect the overall security situation in the Middle East,” he added. “We have sought the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) should there be need for relocation or even evacuation because of hostilities in the region,” Secretary Ople said.

“Undersecretary Bolton expressed his full understanding and appreciation for the concerns we have over our countrymen in the Middle East.  He assured me that the U.S would do all it can to support our efforts to protect Filipinos”, Secretary Ople said.

The two officials also discussed the situation in the Korean peninsula. “Undersecretary Bolton told me that the U.S continues to view the situation with the gravest concern, and that while they are willing to discuss the matter with the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea (DPRK), any such discussion will not involve any negotiations, Secretary Ople said.

During the discussions, Secretary Ople reiterated the position of the Philippines calling on the DPRK to abandon its nuclear weapons program, allow the return of inspectors and the re-installation of monitoring equipment, and to fully comply with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and other relevant agreements.

“Both of us agreed that that there is a serious need to exert every possible diplomatic effort to turn things around in the Korean peninsula.  We agreed that we need to continue our consultations on this matter, particularly at Vienna–based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where the Philippines is a member of the Governing Board, Secretary Ople said.

Acting on its promise to support every diplomatic effort to address the nuclear situation on the Korean peninsula, the Philippines on Monday (6 January 2002), joined the other members of the Governing Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in adopting a strongly-worded resolution calling on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to cooperate and readmit international inspectors.

Upon the adoption its adoption, the Secretary had said that this resolution provides another opportunity for the DPRK to revert its chosen course of resuming its nuclear weapons program and that it is an opportunity that should be taken.

After his visit to the Philippines, Undersecretary Bolton will be proceeding to Thailand and Singapore to conduct similar discussions with his counterparts in those countries.