VZCZCXRO9965
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2824 1870529
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 060529Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1877
INFO RUEHZS/ASEAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5801
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2339
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2733
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS MANILA 002824 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP KN RP
SUBJECT:  PHILIPPINE OFFICIALS CONDEMN NORTH KOREAN MISSILE 
LAUNCHES 
 
REF:  STATE 111144 
 
¶1.  (U) In a statement issued on July 6, President Gloria 
Macapagal Arroyo commented that "In solidarity with the 
international community, The Philippines condemns the 
missile tests of North Korea and urges that nation to 
refrain from further compromising the peace and security of 
the region and of the world.  The world has had enough of 
weapons of mass destruction; and it is high time to walk 
away from armed confrontation and lend more focus in 
addressing the welfare of every human being and the growing 
economic disparity among nations.  As a peace-loving nation 
and a member of the UN Security Council (sic), we shall 
continue (to) be at the forefront of supporting moves to 
ensure world security and peaceful co-existence among all 
nations." 
 
¶2.  (U)  Other senior Philippine officials were quick to 
criticize the July 4 North Korean missile launches as the 
news emerged early on July 5.  Executive Secretary Eduardo 
Ermita called them a "threat to world peace" and "a concern 
of everyone, especially members of all peace-loving nations. 
Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said that these "will have 
a negative impact on the peace and stability of the Korean 
Peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region and run counter to the 
confidence-building efforts being undertaken at the ASEAN 
Regional Forum."  He further noted that "The Philippines 
stresses the need for a peaceful and diplomatic resolution 
of the nuclear issue and therefore joins the international 
community in calling on North Korea to immediately cease 
such missile test firing activities and to resume the 
process of diplomatic negotiations."   Defense Secretary 
Avelino Cruz urged a resumption of the six-party talks and 
highlighted security concerns for the entire Asia-Pacific 
region. 
 
¶3.   (SBU)  Ambassador on July 5 had taken advantage of an 
already scheduled meeting at Malacanang Palace with 
Presidential spokesman Bunye to provide the White House 
statement and to urge a similar statement by President 
Arroyo.  Separately, Pol/C shared reftel points and the 
White House statement with Assistant Secretary of Foreign 
Affairs for Asia and the Pacific Romeo Manalo on July 6. 
KENNEY