ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL DISCUSSES REGIONAL ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001765 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO OSD/ISA FOR TOOLAN AND REDMON JOINT STAFF FOR CLEMMONS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON IZ KN RP SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL DISCUSSES REGIONAL ISSUES WITH FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ROMULO REF: A. MANILA 1704 ¶B. MANILA 1608 Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, reasons 1.4(b) and (d) NORTH KOREA -------------- ¶1. (C) Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, just off the plane from a trip to Japan, asked EAP Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill to meet with him for a relaxed, wide ranging conversation May 25. Secretary Romulo was particularly interested in the Six-Party Talks and indicated he planned to visit North Korea June 19, in his capacity as ASEAN chair. He explained that he wanted to ensure that his visit was helpful to the Six-Party Talks and offered to convey any messages that might be useful. After A/S Hill briefed on the current status of the talks, they agreed to talk again to discuss the situation in North Korea and Six-Party issues before Romulo's visit. PRESIDENT ARROYO'S VISIT TO JAPAN AND TRADE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Romulo said President Arroyo's visit to Japan had an economic focus, and centered on the Japanese-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, which he expects the Philippine Congress will ratify. Romulo inquired about prospects for the U.S. Congress granting trade promotion authority and expressed hope for progress during the DOHA Round, claiming the Philippines and the U.S. shared the same goals. Romulo touted Philippines economic indicators, stating that the Philippine stock market was at an all-time high and the Peso was strong. HELPING TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST UNLAWFUL KILLINGS -------------- --- ¶3. (SBU) Secretary Romulo noted that A/S Hill had previously raised the issue of unlawful killings and said he understood the importance of this issue. Romulo detailed a number of actions the Philippine government had taken to combat unlawful killings and stated that given the high level of interest expressed by A/S Hill and the Ambassador on the issue, he had invited Committee on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Purificacion Quisumbing to the meeting to discuss Philippine actions to combat unlawful killings. A/S Hill thanked Romulo for discussing the issue clearly and forthrightly. Ambassador described USG efforts to help the Philippine government, in the spirit of friendship, to promote and protect human rights and the rule of law, including the recent seminar on the investigation and prosecution of unlawful killings for forty-five Philippine National Police Investigators, prosecutors, and CHR regional directors (ref a). Ambassador noted, however, that much remains to be done. PHILIPPINES SUPPORT FOR U.S. -------------- ¶4. (C) Turning to other global issues, Romulo told A/S Hill the Arroyo Administration continued to wish the U.S. success in Iraq and stated that the Philippines would support Iraq in the community of democracies. He noted that President Arroyo, a staunch supporter of President Bush, hoped she could pay a call on President Bush in the Oval Office this year. Romulo was looking forward to hosting the ASEAN/ARF Ministerial and expressed hope that Secretary Rice would come. A/S Hill agreed that our two Presidents have an excellent relationship and said President Bush appreciates Philippines support in the global war on terror. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY