PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT PLEASED TO ATTEND COMMUNITY

UNCLAS MANILA 003620 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, G(FRIEDICH, FERRAO), DRL/MLGA(JORDAN),IO/RHS(OSTERMEIER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PREL UNGA MG RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT PLEASED TO ATTEND COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES AND ASIA PACIFIC DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP MEETINGS IN MALI REF: A. STATE 152803 -ASIA PACIFIC DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP WORKING BREAKFAST ¶B. STATE 151024 -ADVANCING THE DEMOCRACY AGENDA ¶C. MANILA 3564- FOREIGN MINISTER WELCOMES APDP PROPOSAL ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a November 6 meeting, Department of Foreign Affairs Director for United Nations and International Organizations Leah Ruiz told poloff that the Philippine government would participate in the 4th Community of Democracies ministerial meeting November 14-17, and in the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) breakfast meeting on November 15, in Bamako, Mali. U/S for Special Concerns Rafael Seguis will lead the Philippine delegation to the Community of Democracies meeting, accompanied by Special Assistant Izadwe Tago and Assistant Director Querobine Deapera of the DFA Office of United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO). END SUMMARY. Community of Democracies -------------- ¶2. (SBU) As directed by reftels A and B, poloff met with UNIO Director Leah Ruiz on November 6 to discuss the 4th Community of Democracies (CD) ministerial meeting November 14-17 and the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) breakfast meeting on November 15. Ruiz explained that the Philippine government is very interested in CD, as demonstrated in their participation in all four thematic roundtables, and will have no objections to the Bamako Declaration, provided that it does not require "assessed contributions". Consistent with ref B, Ruiz agreed that Islam and democracy are wholly complementary. (The Philippine Muslim population is estimated at 5 to 9 percent.) Ruiz stated that the DFA is "substantively" in agreement with the CD, and the few difficulties encountered to date have been largely logistical matters in working with the organizers of the 4th CD meeting. Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Ruiz reaffirmed that the Philippine government remains enthusiastic about APDP. However, she expressed concern that the APDP would consume limited time and resources of the DFA. Ruiz said the best way to prevent competition for resources is to assure that the APDP is not duplicative of the functions of the CD or other international organizations. She added that the Philippine government would look to the U.S. to lead the dialogue. Ruiz emphasized that although the Philippine government's political dedication remains strong, it is in arrears in many of its international commitments, and was hesitant to assume additional financial obligations. 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/ KENNEY