ARF: PHILIPPINES TO LOOK AT U.S. PROPOSALS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001614 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/RSP (KEVIN SHEIVES) E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER PARM ARF RP SUBJECT: ARF: PHILIPPINES TO LOOK AT U.S. PROPOSALS REF: STATE 64134 Classified By: POL/C Scott Bellard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The Philippines will look closely at the United States' proposals for the May 25 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in Manila, according to Office of the Undersecretary for Policy Special Assistant Hans Siriban on May 16. ¶2. (C) In discussing the Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM) Working Group proposal, Siriban observed that the Philippines supports "rationalizing methods" designed to streamline the number of ARF activities, noting that the Department of Foreign Affairs is concerned with overtaxing its limited resources. He predicted that the Philippines will be inclined to support the proposal if it addresses this concern. ¶3. (C) Regarding the 2nd draft of the UNSCR 1540 Implementation Statement, Siriban stated that the Philippines had "no major difficulties" with the first draft. Subject to the review of the second draft, the Philippines would not likely change its position, he added. ¶4. (C) According to Siriban, the Philippines is also open to the ISM on Nonproliferation, but takes no strong position regarding Indonesia's proposal to change the title. He noted that the Philippines "will likely go with the consensus" on this issue. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY