LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON FROM FOREIGN SECRETARY

UNCLAS MANILA 001840 SIPDIS S/ES-CR, EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL RP SUBJECT: LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON FROM FOREIGN SECRETARY ROMULO ¶1. (U) Embassy received diplomatic note 09-2509 from the Department of Foreign Affairs, transmitting a letter dated August 14 from Foreign Secretary Romulo for Secretary of State Clinton for the productive meeting they had in Washington July 31. Full text is provided in para 2. The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. will forward original to the Department of State. ¶2. Begin text: The Secretary of Foreign Affairs Republic of the Philippines 14 August 2009 Dear Secretary Clinton, On behalf of President Arroyo I wish to convey my appreciation for the very good meeting we had in Washington, DC last July 31. ASEAN welcomes the U.S.' renewed engagement in the region. With the Philippines coordinating the ASEAN-U.S. dialogue relations, I believe we can work together to reinforce this engagement by convening the ASEAN-U.S. Summit in New York next month at the time of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) with all ASEAN members attending. On September 24, President Obama chairs the UN Security Council Summit on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. This complements his declaration that the U.S. will ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT),and the holding of the CTBT ministerial meeting on 24-25 September. At the same time, the Philippines as president of the 2010 Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will be undertaking preparatory work at the U.N. We can, therefore, make the discussions on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament as springboard for holding the ASEAN-U.S. Summit. The ASEAN-U.S. Summit's agenda could also include climate change, counter-terrorism and interfaith dialogue, among others. Two of these will be the subject of important international conferences in December 2009, viz., the 15th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework on Climate Change Convention to be held in Copenhagen, and the Special NAM Ministerial Conference on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development which will take place in Manila. I believe that holding the ASEAN-U.S. Summit next month at the sidelines of UNGA is most timely and practical. It is my hope that the Secretary would share this view as we both endeavor to strengthen ASEAN-U.S. relations. Please accept, Madam Secretary, the renewed assurances of my highest esteem and consideration. /S/ ALBERTO G. ROMULO Her Excellency HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON Secretary of State Department of State, Washington, D.C. End text. KENNEY