Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MANILA1728
2009-08-14 10:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manila
Cable title:  

PHILIPPINES LOOKS AHEAD TO CHAIRING NPT REVIEW

Tags:  AORC CDG ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PREL UNGA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHML #1728/01 2261025
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O 141025Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4893
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0038
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA IMMEDIATE 0036
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 2279
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RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001728 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/MNSA
GENEVA FOR CD
UNVIE FOR IAEA
USUN FOR POL
USNATO FOR POL
USEU FOR POL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019
TAGS: AORC CDG ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PREL UNGA
IAEA, NPT, RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES LOOKS AHEAD TO CHAIRING NPT REVIEW

REF: A. STATE 83600

B. MANILA 00379

Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001728

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/MNSA
GENEVA FOR CD
UNVIE FOR IAEA
USUN FOR POL
USNATO FOR POL
USEU FOR POL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019
TAGS: AORC CDG ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PREL UNGA
IAEA, NPT, RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES LOOKS AHEAD TO CHAIRING NPT REVIEW

REF: A. STATE 83600

B. MANILA 00379

Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Responding to recently-heightened U.S.
emphasis on nonproliferation issues, Philippine Foreign
Secretary Alberto Romulo expressed to the Ambassador his
nation's keen anticipation of chairing the Nonproliferation
Treaty (NPT) Review Conference to be held in New York next
May, and his government's desire to be helpful in furthering
the two nations' shared nonproliferation agenda. Romulo has
already directed the establishment of an NPT Working Group at
the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) under the
leadership of DFA's Office of UN and International Affairs,
and is looking forward to the September 24 nonproliferation
and disarmament meeting to be addressed by President Obama at
the UN. The Foreign Secretary is optimistic that under
Philippine leadership, the 2010 Review will yield greater
success than the disappointing 2005 session dominated by the
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). END SUMMARY.

Background
--------------


2. (SBU) The 1968 Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear
Weapons (NPT) provides for the 190 Parties to the Treaty to
gather every five years to review whether the purposes and
provisions of the Treaty are being realized. At the 1995 NPT
Review and Extension Conference, the Parties extended the
Treaty indefinitely and formalized the practice of convening
a Review Conference (RevCon) every five years, as well as an
annual Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) in the three years
preceding a RevCon. Philippines Ambassador Libran Cabactulan
will chair the May 2010 Review Conference in New York. As
reported reftel B, the Philippines has consistently
demonstrated strong support for nonproliferation and
disarmament, and believes the two must go hand-in-hand.
Although the Philippines has traditionally favored consensus
solutions in multilateral organizations such as ASEAN, NAM,
and the OIC, senior Philippine officials have expressed a
clear desire to work with the U.S. in achieving substantive
NPT goals, including full compliance with Treaty provisions
by all 190 Parties.

Philippines Ready to Answer Obama's Call
--------------


3. (C) In his August 12 discussion with the Ambassador,
Foreign Secretary Romulo commented on the positive way in
which President Obama had raised the profile of
nonproliferation issues, in U.S. arms reduction talks with
Russia, in the Prague speech where Obama called for
strengthening the Treaty "as a basis for cooperation," and in
President Arroyo's July 30 Oval Office meeting and subsequent
meeting with Secretary Clinton. Romulo went on to emphasize
the seriousness with which the Philippines views the
important role it has to play in chairing the 2010 NPT
Review, together with his country's desire to be helpful in
advancing shared U.S.-Philippines nonproliferation goals. He
outlined that the Department of Foreign Affairs had already
begun assembling an NPT core team, which will be chaired by
Director Leah Ruiz of DFA's Office of UN and International
Organizations.


4. (C) Responding to the Ambassador's reference to President
Obama's plans to address a special September 24 UN meeting on
nonproliferation and disarmament on the margins of the UN
General Assembly, Romulo outlined that Malacanang was
contemplating the participation of President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo. Lastly, the Foreign Secretary was frank in admitting
that the 2005 NPT Review Conference had yielded disappointing
results, after Indonesia's Permanent Representative to the UN
issued a long statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement
condemning Israel and others, while demanding that the 2010
Review Conference be chaired by a NAM member. The Foreign
Secretary described having talked to the Indonesian Foreign
Minister, and both were optimistic that a less-adversarial

MANILA 00001728 002 OF 002


atmosphere would likely prove more productive at the 2010
Conference.
KENNEY