21 September 2005, Washington, DC – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo today met with key members of the US Congress to promote bilateral RP-US relations in a one-day whirlwind visit to Washington, DC.  The Secretary updated American officials on Philippines initiatives to enhance international cooperation as well.

Secretary Romulo and the Hon. Speaker Jose De Venecia held talks with Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and with Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

In addition, Secretary Romulo had a rare joint meeting with Congressman Henry Hyde (R-Illinois), Chairman of the House International Relations Committee and Congressman Jim Leach (R-Iowa), Chairman of the House International Relations East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee.

The Secretary advised these leading members of the United States Congress of the advances made by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Summit held in New York last week. He said that as the chairperson of that Summit, President Arroyo led the UNSC to adopt two key resolutions on peace and security and on terrorism, which enhances global security in line with Philippine foreign policy priorities.

Reflecting on the successful leadership of President Arroyo, Secretary Romulo said that Philippine democracy and stability were reinforced.  He added that the government continues to pursue necessary economic reforms as well.

Secretary Romulo expressed support for the proposal of the Speaker for a global debt-for-equity conversion program for projects designed to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  In this regard, he noted that the debt-for-equity conversion proposal could help attain the good governance and development objectives of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Program of the United States.

Finally, the Secretary conveyed his appreciation for the friendship that the Philippines has enjoyed for many years in the U.S. Congress.  He thanked the congressional leaders, in particular, for advocating robust bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and the United States in both the counter-terrorism and development fields.  Senator Lugar and Senator Inouye have taken the lead in seeking to maintain strong assistance levels for the Philippines in the US Senate.

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/bjg