PHILIPPINES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1874

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001317 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2019 TAGS: KN MNUC PARM PGOV PREL RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1874 REF: STATE 64133 Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Per reftel, Ambassador and other Embassy staff engaged in a robust outreach effort June 22 to senior-most levels of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1874 on North Korea. In the absence of Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, who is en route to Brazil with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Ambassador reinforced with Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Franklin Ebdalin the vital importance of a proactive Philippine role in enlisting greater engagement on North Korea on the part of ASEAN. Although Ebdalin was unable to give an immediate commitment in the absence of contact with Romulo, he promised to provide clarification on Philippine government views as soon as possible. ¶2. (C) Senior Mission officers also contacted the DFA assistant secretaries for American Affairs, ASEAN, and UN and International Organizations (UNIO),in each case after providing the nonpaper points. In a conversation with Acting Political Counselor, Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Eduardo Maglaya promised to convene a meeting of American Affairs, ASEAN Affairs, UNIO, and others, in order to discuss U.S. views and decide on a course of action. Maglaya hoped to be able to provide some response as a result of that process within 24 hours but, given the Foreign Secretary's absence from the country, suggested that a definitive response may take longer. Post will continue to follow up and will report on additional reactions. KENNEY