FOREIGN MINISTER WELCOMES ASIA-PACIFIC DEMOCRACY

UNCLAS MANILA 003564 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EAP/MTS - INGENERI; G - KACHTIK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM RP SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER WELCOMES ASIA-PACIFIC DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL REF: A. STATE 148559 - OBTAINING COMMITMENTS TO APDP ¶B. MANILA 3389 - PHILIPPINES NEEDS MORE TIME ON APDP ¶C. STATE 131561 - APDP ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In an October 30 private lunch with the Ambassador, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo warmly welcomed President Bush's newly announced Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) as an important initiative to strengthen democratic institutions in Asia and said the Philippines would be very pleased to take part in the Partnership's organizing meeting on November 15 on the margins of the Community of Democracies conference. The Department of Foreign Affairs said that a decision would be made soon on who would represent the Philippines at the organizing meeting in Bamako, and that post and the Department would be informed as soon as possible. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) During a lunch at the Residence that also focused on ASEAN's response to the situation in Burma (septel),Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo lauded President Bush's recently SIPDIS announced Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership as an important new tool in furthering the spread of democracy throughout the region. Romulo noted in particular that the proposed membership of the Partnership struck the right balance and was pleased at the inclusion of both India and Indonesia in the list of organizing states. He said that the Philippines welcomed the opportunity to join the Partnership and would certainly take part in the organizing meeting in Bamako on November 15 on margins of the Community of Democracy meeting. ¶3. (U) In later discussion with poloff, DFA Asia Pacific Affairs Executive Director Hellen Barber said that the Department of Foreign Affairs was still weighing who would represent the Philippines in Mali and would be in touch within a few days with both Mission and the Department of State to pass on that information. KENNEY