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DE RUEHML #2589/01 2131203
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O 011203Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7671
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 6153
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RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI IMMEDIATE 1529

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002589 
 
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 
FOREIGN MINISTER ROMULO 
 
Classified By: Deputy Secretary Negroponte, reasons 1.4 c, d 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Meeting July 31 on the margins of the ASEAN 
summit, Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo and 
Deputy Secretary Negroponte agreed on the importance of 
continued progress in the Six-Party Talks to denuclearize the 
Korean Peninsula.  A nuclear-armed North Korea was inimical 
to the interests of all countries in the region.  Romulo also 
asked for USG support for a Senate budget proposal to 
increase 2008 U.S. assistance to the Philippines.  The Deputy 
Secretary said that the USG was doing all it could to keep 
 
SIPDIS 
assistance at the highest levels to support efforts like the 
Mindanao peace process and Philippine military reform.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Opening the meeting, Foreign Secretary Romulo welcomed 
the Deputy Secretary as a friend of the Philippines who knew 
Asia well.  The Deputy Secretary stressed the importance of 
strong U.S.-Philippine ties, saying he was bringing a message 
of real friendship and support between our two counties, as 
well as a commitment to the Southeast Asian region as a 
whole.  Over the past 40 years, ASEAN had served as an 
essential element for peace and stability in East Asia. 
 
Keeping the Pressure on North Korea 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Foreign Secretary Romulo said the Six-Party process to 
denuclearize the Korean Peninsula appeared to be moving in 
the right direction.  However, next steps would be key, 
including progress in the five working groups that would meet 
in August prior to the next plenary.  The Deputy Secretary 
said that the critical point would be whether North Korea was 
really committed to the process, whether it had made a 
strategic decision to give up its nuclear weapons and 
programs.  Pyongyang could always drag the process out, 
giving the least it could while seeking to get more for its 
actions.  Nonetheless, it was essential to press ahead.  The 
U.S. remained hopeful, but things rarely moved according to 
schedule with North Korea, with the Banco Delta Asia issue as 
a prime example.  The Deputy Secretary added that China had a 
key role in pressing North Korea to cooperate, and Beijing 
had no interest in allowing Pyongyang to be a nuclear power. 
A nuclear North Korea also posed difficult strategic choices 
for Japan, so these talks were also in Tokyo's best 
interests. 
 
Seeking Increased U.S. Aid 
-------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Foreign Secretary Romulo welcomed recent U.S. Senate 
action to increase 2008 funding for Foreign Military 
Financing (FMF) and Economic Support Funds (ESF) for the 
Philippines to $30 million in each account (Note: from the 
Administration request of $11 and $26 million respectively). 
He asked that the U.S. Executive Branch support the Senate 
proposal, in light of important progress on counter-terrorism 
cooperation and defense reform.  The Deputy Secretary said 
that the USG was doing all it could to keep assistance levels 
as high as possible to support key efforts like the Mindanao 
peace process and Philippine defense reform. 
 
¶5. (U) July 31, 2007; 17:15; Manila, Philippines 
 
¶6. (U) Meeting Participants: 
 
Philippines 
 
Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo 
Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio for Policy 
Assistant Secretary Romeo Manalo for Asian and Pacific Affairs 
Assistant Secretary Rey Carandang for American Affairs 
Carlos Sorreta, Minister Counselor, Philippine Embassy in 
Washington 
Assistant Secretary Evan Garcia for UNIO 
Victor Lecaros, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia 
Melanie Diano, Principal Assistant, U.S. Division, Office of 
American Affairs 
Catherine Torres, Principal Assistant, Office of Asian and 
Pacific Affairs 
Hans Siriban, Special Assistant, Office of the Undersecretary 
for Policy 
 
 
MANILA 00002589  002 OF 002 
 
 
U.S. 
 
Deputy Secretary John Negroponte 
Ambassador Kristie Kenney 
DCM Paul Jones 
Kaye Lee, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary 
Political Counselor Tom Gibbons (notetaker) 
KENNEY