Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MANILA1491
2008-06-20 05:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Manila
Cable title:
PHILIPPINE RESPONSE TO ARF DISASTER RELIEF
how-toVZCZCXRO3824 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHPB DE RUEHML #1491 1720542 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 200542Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY MANILA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1064 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM IMMEDIATE RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS MANILA 001491
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ARF EAID ASEAN RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE RESPONSE TO ARF DISASTER RELIEF
STATEMENT AND EXERCISES
REF: STATE 61440
ARF DISASTER RELIEF STATEMENT
-----------------------------
UNCLAS MANILA 001491
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ARF EAID ASEAN RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE RESPONSE TO ARF DISASTER RELIEF
STATEMENT AND EXERCISES
REF: STATE 61440
ARF DISASTER RELIEF STATEMENT
--------------
1. (U) The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on
June 17 welcomed the U.S. non-paper (reftel) that encourages
an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Statement on Regional Disaster
Preparedness. DFA Undersecretary for Policy Principal
Assistant Leah Carada Rodriguez said that interest in her
office was high, given recent disasters in China and Burma.
However, Carada Rodriguez said that principal officers
engaged in ARF matters were in Singapore and would not be
able to provide meaningful feedback on the non-paper until
next week at the soonest.
ARF DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISE
--------------
2. (SBU) Post also shared the reftel non-paper, including
paragraph 7, with the DFA American Affairs Office Principal
Assistant Michelle Eduarte. Eduarte explained to poloff June
17 that the Philippines' political commitment to hosting a
disaster relief exercise is "firm," but that "interagency
consultations" are necessary because the Philippines holds a
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the U.S., but not with
other countries. Eduarte said that consultations were
"progressing positively" but that a final outcome would hinge
upon whether the Philippine Department of Justice viewed as
constitutional the exercises and presence of foreign troops.
She added that a final determination would not be possible
until after July 2, when President Arroyo returns from the
U.S. (President Arroyo departs June 21.) As a result, the
mid-late June response deadline (reftel) for a definitive
answer may not be feasible.
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/
GIBBONS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ARF EAID ASEAN RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE RESPONSE TO ARF DISASTER RELIEF
STATEMENT AND EXERCISES
REF: STATE 61440
ARF DISASTER RELIEF STATEMENT
--------------
1. (U) The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on
June 17 welcomed the U.S. non-paper (reftel) that encourages
an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Statement on Regional Disaster
Preparedness. DFA Undersecretary for Policy Principal
Assistant Leah Carada Rodriguez said that interest in her
office was high, given recent disasters in China and Burma.
However, Carada Rodriguez said that principal officers
engaged in ARF matters were in Singapore and would not be
able to provide meaningful feedback on the non-paper until
next week at the soonest.
ARF DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISE
--------------
2. (SBU) Post also shared the reftel non-paper, including
paragraph 7, with the DFA American Affairs Office Principal
Assistant Michelle Eduarte. Eduarte explained to poloff June
17 that the Philippines' political commitment to hosting a
disaster relief exercise is "firm," but that "interagency
consultations" are necessary because the Philippines holds a
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the U.S., but not with
other countries. Eduarte said that consultations were
"progressing positively" but that a final outcome would hinge
upon whether the Philippine Department of Justice viewed as
constitutional the exercises and presence of foreign troops.
She added that a final determination would not be possible
until after July 2, when President Arroyo returns from the
U.S. (President Arroyo departs June 21.) As a result, the
mid-late June response deadline (reftel) for a definitive
answer may not be feasible.
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/
GIBBONS