VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHML #1721 2030910
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 210910Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1346
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS MANILA 001721
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, ISN/RA (MONGIELLO, NEPHEW)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP PARM RP TRGY MNUC PREL IR UR
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES CAUTIOUS ON NAM MEETING AND IRAN/IAEA
ISSUES
REF: SECSTATE 74879
1. (SBU) Post on July 14 conveyed to the Philippine
Department of Foreign Affairs' Legal, Political and Security
Affairs Director for United Nations and Other International
Organizations (UNIO) Leah Ruiz our concerns with Iran's
anticipated maneuvering at the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM) Ministerial meeting to be held July 27-30 in Tehran
(reftel). Ruiz stated that the Philippines, as a member of
the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors
(IAEA/BOG), was conscious of the fact that Iran has not
provided the cooperation or transparency necessary to address
the IAEA's concerns with Iran's nuclear program. Ruiz
further added that she was "quite aware of what Iran is
trying to do" with respect to creating the appearance of
consensus about what it calls its "peaceful nuclear program".
Ruiz stated that the Philippine government, "probably more
than others, shares your concern" that the NAM Foreign
Minister's statement should reflect the reality of
international concerns with Iran's nuclear program, but
acknowledged that the Philippine government adopts the
approach that it must balance its commitments to the
international fora where it plays an important role,
including the NAM and IAEA/BOG, which are often at
loggerheads. In an unrelated July 8 conversation, UNIO
Special Assistant Querobine Deapera told poloff that she was
reviewing the proposed Iranian statement for the NAM
Ministerial meeting and that her job, at the working level,
was to highlight the numerous references to the Iran's
"peaceful" nuclear program that concerned the DFA.
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.
KENNEY