Cablegate: Philippine Government Pleased to Attend Community

VZCZCXRO1026
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #3620 3120601
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 080601Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8834
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO IMMEDIATE 0017
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0235
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS MANILA 003620

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, G(FRIEDICH, FERRAO),
DRL/MLGA(JORDAN), IO/RHS(OSTERMEIER)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PREL UNGA MG RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT PLEASED TO ATTEND COMMUNITY
OF DEMOCRACIES AND ASIA PACIFIC DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP
MEETINGS IN MALI

REF: A. STATE 152803 -ASIA PACIFIC DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP

WORKING BREAKFAST
B. STATE 151024 -ADVANCING THE DEMOCRACY AGENDA
C. MANILA 3564- FOREIGN MINISTER WELCOMES APDP
PROPOSAL

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a November 6 meeting, Department of
Foreign Affairs Director for United Nations and International
Organizations Leah Ruiz told poloff that the Philippine
government would participate in the 4th Community of
Democracies ministerial meeting November 14-17, and in the
Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) breakfast meeting
on November 15, in Bamako, Mali. U/S for Special Concerns
Rafael Seguis will lead the Philippine delegation to the
Community of Democracies meeting, accompanied by Special
Assistant Izadwe Tago and Assistant Director Querobine
Deapera of the DFA Office of United Nations and International
Organizations (UNIO). END SUMMARY.

Community of Democracies
------------------------

2. (SBU) As directed by reftels A and B, poloff met with
UNIO Director Leah Ruiz on November 6 to discuss the 4th
Community of Democracies (CD) ministerial meeting November
14-17 and the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP)
breakfast meeting on November 15. Ruiz explained that the
Philippine government is very interested in CD, as
demonstrated in their participation in all four thematic
roundtables, and will have no objections to the Bamako
Declaration, provided that it does not require "assessed
contributions". Consistent with ref B, Ruiz agreed that
Islam and democracy are wholly complementary. (The
Philippine Muslim population is estimated at 5 to 9 percent.)
Ruiz stated that the DFA is "substantively" in agreement
with the CD, and the few difficulties encountered to date
have been largely logistical matters in working with the
organizers of the 4th CD meeting.

Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership
----------------------------------

3. (SBU) Ruiz reaffirmed that the Philippine government
remains enthusiastic about APDP. However, she expressed
concern that the APDP would consume limited time and
resources of the DFA. Ruiz said the best way to prevent
competition for resources is to assure that the APDP is not
duplicative of the functions of the CD or other international
organizations. She added that the Philippine government
would look to the U.S. to lead the dialogue. Ruiz emphasized
that although the Philippine government's political
dedication remains strong, it is in arrears in many of its
international commitments, and was hesitant to assume
additional financial obligations.

Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm

You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/
KENNEY

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