Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANILA1982
2006-05-09 07:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manila
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR'S MAY 5 MEETING WITH FOREIGN SECRETARY
how-toVZCZCXRO7962 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHML #1982 1290756 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 090756Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANILA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0900 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0688 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001982
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, NEA, S/CT
NSC FOR H. MORROW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PHUM PTER RP BM IR SA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MAY 5 MEETING WITH FOREIGN SECRETARY
ROMULO
REF: A. MANILA 1886
B. MANILA 1884
C. STATE 66050
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001982
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, NEA, S/CT
NSC FOR H. MORROW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PHUM PTER RP BM IR SA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MAY 5 MEETING WITH FOREIGN SECRETARY
ROMULO
REF: A. MANILA 1886
B. MANILA 1884
C. STATE 66050
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. In a May 5 meeting, the Ambassador thanked
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Romulo for the Philippine
SIPDIS
government's support for efforts to keep Iran off the UNHRC.
She urged the GRP to pursue concerns about terrorist
financing when President Arroyo visits Saudi Arabia on May 7.
Romulo offered the Ambassador an overview of the recent
ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Indonesia, at which the
Malaysian foreign minister reported that he was barred from
meeting with the Opposition on his recent trip to Burma.
Romulo also asked whether he might be able to meet with
Secretary Rice when he visited the U.S. in June. He
SIPDIS
suggested that President Arroyo might also visit at that time
if she could count on meeting with President Bush. End
Summary.
2. (C) The Ambassador met privately on May 5 with Secretary
of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo. The Ambassador raised
the question of assuring appropriate membership on the United
Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and particularly the
importance of keeping Iran off the UNHRC (ref B and C).
Secretary Romulo concurred and indicated that the Philippines
SIPDIS
would stand with the U.S. in opposition to Iranian membership
on the UNHRC. The Ambassador thanked Secretary Romulo for
this support.
3. (C) The Ambassador then turned to President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's May 7 visit to Saudi Arabia, urging that
the President use the opportunity to raise concerns about
terrorist financing issues with senior Saudi officials.
Secretary Romulo was very receptive to this idea.
SIPDIS
4. (C) The Ambassador also sounded out Secretary Romulo
regarding May 1 demonstrations in Manila (ref A). Romulo
stated that he was pleased that the protests were peaceful;
they showed Philippine democracy at its finest: the
demonstrators were vocal but well-behaved, and the police
were restrained and respectful of human rights. This
analysis echoed similar comments made to the Ambassador by
Philippine Secretary of Defense Cruz on May 3.
5. (C) Secretary Romulo gave the Ambassador a brief report
on the annual meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers, held in
Bali on April 19-20. Romulo drew particular attention to the
foreign ministers' discussion of Burma. Romulo said that the
foreign ministers received a discouraging report from
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar on his recent
visit to Burma, during which Albar was barred from meeting
with Aung San Suu Kyi and other Opposition leaders.
6. (C) Secretary Romulo also noted that he would be in
Washington on June 17, helping commemorate the centennial of
the arrival of the first Filipino immigrants to the United
States. Romulo said he hoped to meet with Secretary Rice
during his visit, and host her at the centennial
commemoration dinner, if possible. The Ambassador indicated
that the Secretary was extraordinarily busy and that the
Ambassador did not know what Secretary Rice had scheduled for
that date. Romulo also suggested that President Arroyo would
make time to visit the U.S. for the June 17 commemoration if
she could be assured of a meeting with President Bush
regarding Philippine and bilateral counterterrorism efforts.
The Ambassador underscored the USG's appreciation for
Philippine counterterrorism efforts but noted that the press
of Washington business would make a meeting between our two
Presidents in June unlikely. Romulo then suggested that
perhaps the best course would be for him to telephone
Secretary Rice for a short chat, in lieu of meetings at this
SIPDIS
time. Ambassador suggested they touch base on this when
Romulo returned from Saudi Arabia.
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/
Kenney
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, NEA, S/CT
NSC FOR H. MORROW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PHUM PTER RP BM IR SA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MAY 5 MEETING WITH FOREIGN SECRETARY
ROMULO
REF: A. MANILA 1886
B. MANILA 1884
C. STATE 66050
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. In a May 5 meeting, the Ambassador thanked
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Romulo for the Philippine
SIPDIS
government's support for efforts to keep Iran off the UNHRC.
She urged the GRP to pursue concerns about terrorist
financing when President Arroyo visits Saudi Arabia on May 7.
Romulo offered the Ambassador an overview of the recent
ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Indonesia, at which the
Malaysian foreign minister reported that he was barred from
meeting with the Opposition on his recent trip to Burma.
Romulo also asked whether he might be able to meet with
Secretary Rice when he visited the U.S. in June. He
SIPDIS
suggested that President Arroyo might also visit at that time
if she could count on meeting with President Bush. End
Summary.
2. (C) The Ambassador met privately on May 5 with Secretary
of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo. The Ambassador raised
the question of assuring appropriate membership on the United
Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and particularly the
importance of keeping Iran off the UNHRC (ref B and C).
Secretary Romulo concurred and indicated that the Philippines
SIPDIS
would stand with the U.S. in opposition to Iranian membership
on the UNHRC. The Ambassador thanked Secretary Romulo for
this support.
3. (C) The Ambassador then turned to President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's May 7 visit to Saudi Arabia, urging that
the President use the opportunity to raise concerns about
terrorist financing issues with senior Saudi officials.
Secretary Romulo was very receptive to this idea.
SIPDIS
4. (C) The Ambassador also sounded out Secretary Romulo
regarding May 1 demonstrations in Manila (ref A). Romulo
stated that he was pleased that the protests were peaceful;
they showed Philippine democracy at its finest: the
demonstrators were vocal but well-behaved, and the police
were restrained and respectful of human rights. This
analysis echoed similar comments made to the Ambassador by
Philippine Secretary of Defense Cruz on May 3.
5. (C) Secretary Romulo gave the Ambassador a brief report
on the annual meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers, held in
Bali on April 19-20. Romulo drew particular attention to the
foreign ministers' discussion of Burma. Romulo said that the
foreign ministers received a discouraging report from
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar on his recent
visit to Burma, during which Albar was barred from meeting
with Aung San Suu Kyi and other Opposition leaders.
6. (C) Secretary Romulo also noted that he would be in
Washington on June 17, helping commemorate the centennial of
the arrival of the first Filipino immigrants to the United
States. Romulo said he hoped to meet with Secretary Rice
during his visit, and host her at the centennial
commemoration dinner, if possible. The Ambassador indicated
that the Secretary was extraordinarily busy and that the
Ambassador did not know what Secretary Rice had scheduled for
that date. Romulo also suggested that President Arroyo would
make time to visit the U.S. for the June 17 commemoration if
she could be assured of a meeting with President Bush
regarding Philippine and bilateral counterterrorism efforts.
The Ambassador underscored the USG's appreciation for
Philippine counterterrorism efforts but noted that the press
of Washington business would make a meeting between our two
Presidents in June unlikely. Romulo then suggested that
perhaps the best course would be for him to telephone
Secretary Rice for a short chat, in lieu of meetings at this
SIPDIS
time. Ambassador suggested they touch base on this when
Romulo returned from Saudi Arabia.
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/
Kenney