CALLING FOR A BALANCED ASEAN STATEMENT ON MIDDLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 003085 SIPDIS SIPDIS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP FOR ALLEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016 TAGS: PREL ASEAN LE IS RP SUBJECT: CALLING FOR A BALANCED ASEAN STATEMENT ON MIDDLE EAST REF: STATE 120236 Classified By: A/DCM Scott Bellard for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador discussed the situation in the Middle East (reftel) with Foreign Secretary Romulo on July 23, emphasizing that the United States was working hard to achieve a durable cessation to the current violence in the Middle East and to ease the plight of innocent people. She urged the Philippines to work with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to avoid any unbalanced statements on the crisis at their upcoming meetings in Kuala Lumpur. ¶2. (C) Secretary Romulo said he was watching events in the Middle East carefully, especially given the more than 30,000 overseas Filipino workers in Lebanon. (The GRP has been able so far to repatriate 232 citizens from Lebanon to Manila, with dozens still awaiting repatriation in Damascus.) He said he hoped to discuss the situation with the Secretary on the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur, but could make no commitment as to the content of any ASEAN statement. He praised Secretary Rice for her tireless efforts. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm Kenney