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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002588 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR D, AND EAP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2027 
TAGS: ASEAN ETRD PREL RP
SUBJECT: THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH PHILIPPINE 
PRESIDENT ARROYO 
 
Classified By: Deputy Secretary Negroponte, reasons 1.4 c, d 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and Deputy 
Secretary Negroponte lauded stronger U.S.-Philippine ties, 
 
SIPDIS 
including continued close cooperation in counterterrorism and 
the Mindanao peace process during a July 31 meeting at 
Malacanang Palace.  Arroyo pledged to take a "measured 
approach" to resolving the current security crisis in Basilan 
to avoid damaging the peace process, but made clear that the 
central government was committed to bringing to justice those 
responsible for the beheadings of 10 Marines.  She 
acknowledged U.S. concerns over reported extrajudicial 
killings, and said recent court convictions demonstrated that 
the Philippine government was committed to human rights. 
Arroyo lauded ASEAN's agreement to accelerate establishment 
of a regional common market to 2015 and pointed to its 
adoption of an ASEAN charter with a human rights committee as 
clear signs the organization was willing to take on difficult 
issues like Burma.  The two welcomed recent progress in the 
Six-Party Talks, but agreed that continued pressure was 
needed to ensure that North Korea produced a complete 
accounting of its nuclear programs and lived up fully to its 
commitments to denuclearize.  End summary. 
 
C/T Cooperation Strengthens Relations 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) President Arroyo and the Deputy Secretary agreed 
U.S.-Philippine ties had strengthened in the past 18 months, 
particularly in counterterrorism cooperation with the 
neutralization of Abu Sayyaf leaders.  The Deputy Secretary 
stressed that he carried a robust message of support from 
President Bush and Secretary Rice for close relations with 
the Philippines and with ASEAN.  Secretary Rice was currently 
on travel in the Middle East with Secretary Gates, but this 
should not suggest diminished support for ASEAN or Southeast 
Asia.  SE Asian states were vital partners for the U.S., with 
growing economic importance, and ASEAN's commitment at this 
summit to seek to achieve a common market by 2015 was an 
important development. 
 
Pressing for Change in ASEAN 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) President Arroyo concurred, saying that ASEAN's 
dynamic economic changes were matched by significant 
political progress, notably agreement on an ASEAN charter 
that included a human rights body -- with even Burma signing 
on.  This was a sign ASEAN was moving away from the consensus 
decision-making that had hampered it in the past; it also 
might lead to positive change in Burma.  The Deputy Secretary 
said he hoped these changes would indeed have a positive 
impact, not only on ASEAN broadly but specifically in Burma. 
Arroyo expressed her hope for a bilateral meeting with 
President Bush, and for a U.S.-ASEAN summit meeting, perhaps 
in the U.S., to parallel similar gatherings with Japan and 
China.  The Deputy Secretary took note of the request and 
said that President Bush would be taking part in the APEC 
summit in Australia. 
 
Seeking Justice, Preserving Peace in Mindanao 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Turning to the current security crisis in Basilan 
province over the killing and mutilation of 14 Philippine 
Marines, Arroyo stressed that the government and military 
were taking a measured approach, trying to mount a "surgical" 
operation focused on capturing five key suspects and limiting 
"collateral damage" to both the local population and the 
Mindanao peace process.  Her government had just agreed to 
give the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of 
Hostilities (CCCH) and local leaders an additional two days 
to firm up evidence against the suspects.  She thanked the 
USG for its strong support for the peace process, saying that 
it had provided a successful paradigm combining hard and soft 
power. 
 
Commitment to Resolve Extrajudicial Killings 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) The President also welcomed recent budget action by 
the U.S. Senate to increase assistance to the Philippines, 
but voiced concern that Philippine "leftists" had lobbied the 
 
MANILA 00002588  002 OF 002 
 
 
U.S. Congress to lower aid because of alleged human rights 
violations.  Acknowledging concerns about extrajudicial 
killings, Arroyo stressed that such human rights violations 
were not carried out as part of Philippine government policy. 
 To the contrary, the government was actively investigating 
the killings and had obtained six convictions so far.  The 
Deputy Secretary agreed on the importance of resolving the 
issue, voicing confidence in the ability of the Philippines' 
democratic structures -- including its free press -- to deal 
with this difficult problem. 
 
Maintaining Momentum in Six-Party Process 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Turning to another "Asian flashpoint," Arroyo noted 
she and the Deputy Secretary would be meeting shortly with 
the new North Korean foreign minister and the heads of 
delegation from the other Six-Party partners.  She praised 
recent progress in the Talks, but stressed the need for 
continued movement, including in the five working groups. 
The Deputy Secretary said North Korea's actions in producing 
a comprehensive list of its nuclear facilities would be a key 
sign of its commitment to the process.  It remained to be 
seen if Pyongyang would be forthcoming or drag its feet; past 
experience suggested the process would not be smooth, and we 
would need to induce them to cooperate and then hold them to 
their commitments.  But clearly a nuclear North Korea was in 
no one's interest, including China's, and Pyongyang's nuclear 
programs produced a "spiralling effect" that could induce 
other countries like Japan to reconsider their own status, 
the Deputy Secretary noted.  Conversely, a nuclear agreement 
could bring Pyongyang better relations with all countries in 
the region, including the U.S. 
 
¶7. (U) July 31, 2007; 18:00; Manila, Philippines 
 
¶8. (U) Meeting Participants: 
 
Philippines 
 
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo 
Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo 
Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio 
Maria Josefina Ceballos, Deputy Presidential Assistant for 
Foreign Affairs 
 
U.S. 
 
Deputy Secretary John Negroponte 
Ambassador Kristie Kenney 
DCM Paul Jones 
Political Counselor Tom Gibbons (notetaker) 
KENNEY