DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                             2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                        Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-042-07                                                                                                                                                                         24 January 2007

SECRETARY OF STATE RICE CONGRATULATES RP ON SUCCESSFUL HOSTING
 AND RESULTS OF 12TH ASEAN AND 2ND EAST ASIA SUMMITS

24 January 2007 – United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice congratulated the Philippines on 22 January for the successful hosting and meaningful results of the 12th ASEAN and 2nd East Asian Summits that were held in Cebu earlier this month.

The congratulations of the U.S. government were conveyed by Secretary Rice to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo in Washington, DC.

“It was very thoughtful of Secretary Rice to convey her congratulations as well as that of the U.S. government for our hosting of the Cebu summits. This is a gesture that is deeply appreciated and reflects the intense interest that the United States has in our country and our region,” Secretary Romulo said.

“It is also a clear recognition of our leadership as the current Chair of ASEAN,” he added.

The Secretary said that he had a very pleasant conversation with Secretary Rice “who warmly offered her own personal congratulations not only on our hosting but also on our leadership that led to the successful outcome of the summit meetings.”

In Cebu, a number of initiatives launched by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were strongly supported by the Summit participants.

“In Cebu, the President’s initiatives led to concrete agreements and understandings,” Secretary Romulo said, adding “clearly, these initiatives were appreciated not only by the summit participants but also by our friends around the world.”

The Secretary further said, “These are initiatives that help move issues forward, from the Korean peninsula issue to democratization in Myanmar to regional integration by building a caring and sharing community.”

Secretary Romulo reiterated that in Cebu, President Arroyo pushed for several initiatives, including the ASEAN Charter, energy security, counter terrorism, interfaith dialogue, moving the Doha Development Agenda forward, protection of the rights of migrant workers, promotion of cross-border employment in the health sector, disaster mitigation and relief, prevention of communicable diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, strengthening the BIMP-EAGA, helping build peace in Timor Leste and Aceh, and continuing support for the Mindanao peace process.  END

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