PHILIPPINES SUPPORTS IN PRINCIPLE U.S. ARF

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 000931 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/RSP (SHEIVES) AND EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2017 TAGS: ARF PREL MARR XB EAID PARM RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES SUPPORTS IN PRINCIPLE U.S. ARF INITIATIVES REF: STATE 33907 Classified By: A/Pol/C Paul O'Friel, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) According to Hans Siriban, Department of Foreign Affairs' Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for Policy, the Philippines supports in principle the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Statement Supporting National Implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 and the establishment of an Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM) on Nonproliferation Issues in the ARF. Regarding the Statement, Siriban noted that the Philippines may comment on the draft at the Helsinki Inter-Sessional Support Group meeting, and expressed his hope that the Statement would be ready for endorsement at the Senior Officials Meeting in May. Siriban called the ISM proposal "a step in the right direction." He added that the Philippines welcomes these types of initiatives that bolster the credibility and stature of ASEAN, while improving the effectiveness of the ARF. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm JONES