11 March 2004 – The Philippines will be signing with  the Republic of India an Extradition Treaty at the
 Philippine Westin Plaza at 9:30 am tomorrow, 12 March  2004, Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert  today said. The signing is one of the highlights of  the 7th RP-India Policy Consultation Talks which is
 being held today at the Westin Plaza Hotel.  Acting Justice Secretary Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez will  be signing the treaty on behalf of the Government of  the Philippines, while Indian Ambassador to the  Philippines, Ambassador Navrekha Sharma will sign for  the Indian Government.

 The signing of the treaty is being held prior to the  commencement of the 1st RP-India Security Dialogue on
 the same day. The holding of the Security Dialogue was  proposed by India to the Philippines during the 6th
 RP-India Policy Consultation Talks held in New Delhi  last year.

 “Currently, the Philippines has two venues in which to  discuss bilateral relations with India: the Joint  Working Group on RP-India Trade, which is led by the  Department of Trade and Industry, and the Policy  Consultation Talks led by the Department of Foreign  Affairs,” Secretary Albert explained. “The former  focuses on trade and investments, while the latter  involves foreign policy thrusts and other areas of  mutual concern. The start of the 1st RP-India Security  Dialogue will usher in a new era in RP-India  relations, focused on a more strategic partnership.”

 Under the RP-India Political Security Dialogue,  representatives from the two countries’ Armed Forces,
 Department/Ministry of Defense, and other relevant  government agencies, including the Department of
 Foreign Affairs, will discuss RP and Indian security  policies, military and defense cooperation,  intelligence sharing, as well as cooperative measures  against terrorism and transnational crime. The  Security Dialogue will be held annually, back-to-back  with the Policy Consultation Talks, with venues  alternating between the two countries’ capitals.

 “The decision by India and the Philippines to start  the Security Dialogue could not have come at a more
 fortuitous time. With India’s current ‘Look East’  policy, this is the perfect opportunity for our  country to reinvigorate its ties with the world’s  second most populated nation,” Secretary Albert  averred. - END