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-750-07                                                                                                                                                                 28 September 2007

 

 

ROMULO CITES CENTRAL ROLE OF U.S. AS PARTNER FOR PEACE, GROWTH IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

 

27 September 2007, New York – Saying that the United States continues to play a central role in the peace, security and growth of the Southeast Asian region, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo today reiterated his call for the United States to take its engagement with the region one step further by acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and “be part of the community we are building in East Asia.”

The Secretary made this call today during the meeting between the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.  The meeting was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, on the sidelines of the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly.

The Secretary also welcomed the decision of President Bush to appoint an American Ambassador for ASEAN as a reiteration by the US of the importance it gives to its relations with ASEAN. The Secretary said that this decision, the first among ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, “is timely, as the United States remains a key ASEAN partner and a crucial part of our regions security and future.”

“As President Bush said in Sydney ,” the Secretary recalled, “ America ’s alliances and defense relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific forms the bedrock of its security engagement in the region.”

“These security relationships have helped keep the peace in our part of the world and created the conditions that have allowed our economies to grow,” he added.  

The Secretary told the meeting that the Philippines specially appreciates America ’s assistance in Mindanao “where we are currently continuing our campaign to contain the threat of Abu Sayyaf.  We want to keep the pressure on them and keep them on the run.”

At the same time, the Secretary pointed out, “we are working with international donors to deliver aid and rebuild the necessary infrastructure in Muslim Communities affected by the campaign.”  

“I believe that we can rely on America ’s unshakeable commitment to secure peace and stability in the region regardless of its engagement in the other parts of the world,” the Secretary said.

On this point, the Secretary emphasized, “ASEAN and the United States stand on common ground.  It is time to plant firmer foundations on this ground. I would like to reiterate our call for the United States to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and be part of the community we are building in East Asia .” END.

 

 

 

 

/esgret

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