AMBASSADOR HOSTS ASEAN MISSION CHIEFS

UNCLAS MANILA 002444 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/RSP AND EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ARF RP SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HOSTS ASEAN MISSION CHIEFS ¶1. (U) In anticipation of the upcoming ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) ministerial meetings in Manila August 1-2, Ambassador hosted an informal breakfast at her residence on July 20 for ASEAN member state ambassadors and officials from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Ambassador took the opportunity to affirm the high level of interest the U.S. has in ASEAN and ARF affairs and to thank the Philippines for its leadership of ASEAN over the past year, as well as its upcoming hosting of the Post-Ministerial Conferences and the ARF. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador congratulated her guests on recent successes, including the groundbreaking work on an ASEAN Charter. DFA Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio noted the increasingly active role ASEAN is playing in regional affairs, a point that the Singaporean Ambassador echoed, adding that ASEAN dialogue now encompasses more "meaningful issues." The guests expressed enthusiasm for the newly restructured ASEAN Fund, which should facilitate regional projects and promote a common ASEAN stance on issues of interest to member states. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY