AMBASSADOR'S MAY 5 MEETING WITH FOREIGN SECRETARY

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