PHILIPPINES WELCOMES RATIFICATION OF THE U.S.-IAEA

UNCLAS MANILA 000066 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC IAEA ENRG PREL KNNP TRGY KTIA PARM MNUC PGOV, NPT, RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES WELCOMES RATIFICATION OF THE U.S.-IAEA ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL REF: STATE 00322 ¶1. (SBU) In a discussion with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Director Leah Ruiz of the Office of United Nations & Other International Organizations (UNIO) on January 9, Post conveyed reftel points and inquired into the status of the Philippine government's plans on bringing its Additional Protocol with the IAEA into force. Director Ruiz expressed her government's strong support for the U.S. efforts to strengthen nonproliferation safeguards by ratifying the Additional Protocol with the IAEA. She added that the Philippine government is committed to bringing its Additional Protocol into force but could not give an estimated ratification date because the current legislative agenda is already crowded. Director Ruiz said that her office is working with senior officials at DFA to ensure the Additional Protocol is added to the legislative agenda as soon as possible. JONES