PHILIPPINES WELCOMES ASEAN-RELATED SUMMITS ANEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000105

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2012
TAGS: PREL ECIN PTER ASEAN RU XE CH JA KN KS BM
RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES WELCOMES ASEAN-RELATED SUMMITS ANEW

REF: A. 06 MANILA 5015

B. 06 MANILA 4935

C. 06 MANILA 4855

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Classified By: CDA Paul W, Jones, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) In a discussion with Charge on January 8, President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo reiterated the Philippine
Government's determination to host successful ASEAN-related
summits, including the East Asia Summit, in Cebu January
13-15 following their postponement from the original December
dates due to typhoon concerns (refs b and c). She reiterated
that a key theme of the EAS will be on energy security. She
said that the EAS would not discuss WTO/Doha Round, as
planned in December, because WTO chief Pascal Lamy would not
attend, and he had not advanced any new thinking on the Doha
round at the APEC summit in Hanoi, anyway.

U.S. and Regional Architecture
--------------


2. (C) President Arroyo told Charge she hoped the U.S.
would accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, as other
ASEAN partners have, even without any intention to take part
in the EAS. The 30th anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN ties
presented a symbolic opportunity for U.S. accession, she
continued, adding that perhaps Secretary Rice could do so at
the ASEAN Regional Forum in the Philippines in summer 2007.
Speaking more broadly on regional architecture, President
Arroyo said that, without U.S. participation, the EAS would
not develop beyond its current form. China remained
supportive of the EAS, she believed, partly because it
offered a forum for talks with Japan and South Korea. Russia
wanted to join, but its links to ASEAN remained too weak to
justify its participation, since EAS is ASEAN-driven.
Pressed on complementarity between EAS and APEC, President
Arroyo observed that the U.S. role makes APEC relevant, but
APEC's lack of a permanent secretariat might make its
follow-up on issues raised in EAS less systematic than ASEAN,
which has a permanent secretariat.

Summit Security/Terrorism
--------------


3. (U) Speaking from ground zero of terrorist activity on
the southern island of Jolo, President Arroyo told the press
on January 8 that "our fight against terror goes hand in hand
with the global and regional effort, and as we face the ASEAN
Summit, we would like to assure all our allies in East Asia
and beyond that the Filipino soldiery and people are on watch
every hour of the day, determined to do their share to defeat
terror for a more secure and safer world." Philippine
officials have insisted that they are prepared to meet any
potential security threats and reassured the summit
participants of their safety.

ASEAN agenda
--------------


4. (C) Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for Policy Erlinda
Basilio confirmed separately to A/DCM that the substance of
the summits would remain as originally planned (ref a). The
ASEAN Summit itself will focus on "building a community of
caring societies," with expectations of adopting a Convention
on counterterrorism. Migrant workers will be another
important topic, although some ASEAN diplomats in Manila have
commented privately that this is mostly a Philippine effort
to promote and protect its own Overseas Filipino Workers,
rather than a common concern. The leaders will receive
recommendations from the Eminent Persons Group on an ASEAN
Charter and will task a new group to provide a draft at the
next summit, possibly including some enforcement mechanisms.
The EAS will likely issue a declaration on regional issues,
including Burma and North Korea.

Attendance
--------------


5. (U) Foreign Ministers of Japan and Australia will miss

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the ministerial sessions set for January 11, but their prime
ministers will attend the weekend summits. Timor Leste's
foreign minister is still expected to participate in a
ceremony acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, but
there is now doubt that the French Foreign Minister will be
able to do so. France has formally already signed the TAC,
however, according to the French Embassy.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) The summits have attracted enormous attention in the
Philippines, with much preoccupation for how the country, and
its second city Cebu, will be perceived by leaders of sixteen
key partner countries. The Philippines remains interested in
promoting the U.S. relationship with ASEAN and the EAS.

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/
Jones