PHILIPPINE VIEWS ON NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE AND

UNCLAS MANILA 000196

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL NPT IAEA UNGA RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE VIEWS ON NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE AND
NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT

REF: A. STATE 5891

B. STATE 7493


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On January 28, Political-External chief
discussed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review
Conference (NPT RevCon) and Nuclear Security Summit with the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),and delivered Reftel
demarches. DFA said that the planning was proceeding well
for next week's pre-RevCon workshop, and that the Philippines
is pleased with the preparations for the Nuclear Security
Summit. End Summary.


2. (U) In the January 28 meeting, DFA was represented by
Donna Rodriguez, Director of the Office of Political,
Security, and Legal Matters in the international
organizations bureau, and Rona Goce, Principal Assistant to
the NPT Review Conference Chair, Ambassador Libran Cabactulan.


3. (SBU) Pol-Ext chief commended the Philippines for taking
on the challenge of chairing the NPT RevCon and expressed the
U.S. interest in working with Manila to ensure a successful
Review Conference. Rodriguez said that the planning was
proceeding well for the "Workshop on the Treaty on the
Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons," to be held in Manila
February 1-2, which will serve as a preparatory meeting for
the RevCon. The Philippines is pleased that U.S. Special
Representative Susan Burk will be attending, and that a total
of 62 participants have confirmed their attendance. The
Philippine Government is focused on the event at the highest
levels, Rodriguez added, as seen by President Arroyo's
hosting of a lunch for workshop participants on February 1 at
the Presidential palace.


4. (SBU) Regarding the Nuclear Security Summit, Rodriguez
said that the Philippine Sherpa, DFA U/S Ricardo Manalo,
would not be able to attend the Third Sherpa meeting in The
Hague in February. Instead, the Philippines will be
represented by Sous-Sherpa Carlos Sorreta and A/S for
international organizations Leslie Gatan.


5. (SBU) Rodriguez said that, overall, the Philippines is
pleased with the preparations for the Nuclear Security
Summit, and noted that the process for negotiating the
communiqu has improved. She also acknowledged the
difficulty posed to the United States by "some countries"
opposing any mention of the NPT in the Summit communiqu
(NFI). Rodriguez did express concern that the U.S. may wish
for the Summit to be held on an annual basis, citing a draft
of the communiqu that referred in bracketed text to the next
Summit (without specifying a date). Noting that other
countries had expressed similar concerns to DFA, she
suggested that holding the Summit annually would take focus
away from the NPT RevCon -- which is held every five years --
and could strain the resources and personnel of
developing-country foreign ministries. Rodriguez also
queried why the U.S. invited only 44 countries and
organizations to the 2010 Summit, and suggested that there
should be broader participation for any future Summits on
nuclear security.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: While Rodriguez represents a
middle-management perspective, and we cannot yet confirm
whether her views are shared by Foreign Secretary Romulo or
Ambassador Cabactulan, her comments did provide valuable
insight into the RevCon and Nuclear Security Summit process.
We were pleased to hear that the Philippines believes that
the process for negotiating the Summit communiqu has
improved, since in a previous meeting the DFA had expressed
the concern that non-U.S. views were not being sufficiently
taken into account. Finally, President Arroyo's hosting of
an event is a positive indication of importance that the
Philippines places on the RevCon process.
BASSETT