The Hague, 26 January 2005 – Secretary Alberto G. Romulo today met Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot to discuss bilateral relations and several other issues of common interest, including the status of the peace process in the Philippines.  Secretary Romulo was accompanied by Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, Secretary Norberto Gonzales and Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Romeo C. Arguelles.

Secretary Romulo stressed that the Philippine government was committed to pursue the cause of peace and cited the progress gained in the peace talks with the MILF.  Secretary Quintos-Deles further briefed the Minister on the MILF negotiations and expressed optimism that with the help of Malaysia and other nations through the International Monitoring Force, a peace agreement could be concluded by the middle of this year.  The Philippine side also expressed the hope that the Netherlands would be an active participant in the multi-donor trust fund for Mindanao once a peace agreement is concluded.

On the issue of terrorism, Secretary Romulo informed Minister Bot on the recent election of the Philippines as head of the APEC Counter-Terrorism Task Force and the UNSC 1566 Committee on Anti-Terrorism.  Secretary Gonzales also gave his views on the issue of terrorism in Southeast Asia, focusing on the Jemaah Islamiyah and the activities of the Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines.  Secretary Gonzales stated that the JI had stopped using the Philippines as a recruitment ground and that their possible tie-ups with the Abu Sayyaf will be closely monitored.

The peace process with the CPP-NPA-NDF was also discussed, and Secretary Romulo expressed his gratitude for the assistance already extended by the Dutch government, and hoped that more positive developments would be forthcoming.  “ I wish to state that the Philippines is a government of laws and that all parties have nothing to fear insofar as respect for fundamental human rights is concerned.

The cordial state of bilateral relations was also discussed at length with the Secretary thanking the Dutch government for the assistance extended during the typhoons that hit the country recently.  The Secretary also expressed the hope that the Dutch government will consider continued Official Development Assistance to the Philippines, as this has been of great help to the beneficiaries.

As the Netherlands remains one of the top European investors and trade partners of the Philippines, the matter of continued progress on the Investment Protection Agreement was also highlighted by both Ministers.  Dutch companies are an established presence in the Philippines with Shell, Makro and Philips being household names.  Philips plans to invest US $ 250 million more in the country over the next 3 years. END
 

/jay