VZCZCXYZ0013
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHML #4348 2860903
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130903Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3485
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0179

UNCLAS MANILA 004348 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA RP
SUBJECT: TALKING POINTS ON UNGA ISSUES 
 
REF: STATE 168341 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  In a meeting on October 13, Assistant Secretary of 
Foreign Affairs for United Nations and International 
Organizations Aladin Villacorte expressed appreciation to 
Pol/C for reftel positions.  (Septel will discuss solid 
Philippine support for Guatemala's UNSC candidacy.)  He 
expressed particular interest in recent developments on North 
Korea, which Pol/C described, while praising the strong 
statement of Philippine President Arroyo and Foreign 
Secretary Romulo, in his capacity as ASEAN Chair, against the 
 
SIPDIS 
North Korean nuclear test.  On Israel/Palestine-Middle East 
issues, Villacorte admitted that the Philippine delegation in 
New York often followed the OIC.  Pol/C underscored that the 
USG watched UNGA voting records very carefully and urged that 
the GRP delegation never be more than one vote apart from the 
U.S. delegation, i.e., whenever possible, abstain rather than 
vote against the U.S. delegation.  Villacorte promised to 
take this advice into consideration. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Villacorte also noted that Philippine Permanent 
Representative to the UN Baja was now apt to remain in place 
for the foreseeable future, due to domestic political 
opposition to the nomination of retired Supreme Court Chief 
Justice Davide as his replacement. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
KENNEY