(Statement delivered at the ASEAN-US Dialogue, 42nd Post Ministerial Conference, Phuket, Thailand, July 22, 2009.)

Mr. Chair, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Excellencies, It is a singular achievement that as we begin this ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference, we also mark U.S accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia. The accession sends the strongest signal of the US’ and the Obama Administration’s renewed engagement with our region.

And I hope that the US accession to the TAC would lead to its eventual participation in the East Asia Summit (EAS). We would greatly benefit from the US’ views on enhancing EAS cooperation.

Secretary Clinton said in her speech in the Council on Foreign Relations that the US has lost some ground in recent years. That might be true on account of US’ absence in Southeast Asia. But that damage is merely temporary – much like Secretary Clinton’s elbow, which is getting better everyday. For indeed, as the Secretary declared upon her arrival yesterday, “The US is back!”

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, The Philippines welcomes the policy of President Obama’s administration to rebuild global alliances, particularly in reinvigorating its relationship with ASEAN. I believe this shows the priority it accords to the region’s growth and stability, and its strategic importance.

We believe there is much common ground upon which ASEAN and the US can embark on forging a stronger partnership based on interests and mutual respect. With the Philippines taking the reins of ASEAN-US Dialogue Relations for the period 2009-2012 as Country Coordinator, we hope to raise this level of partnership to a higher ground.

We listened with great interest to Secretary Clinton’s recent speech before the Council on Foreign Relations which outlined five foreign policy approaches. We especially appreciate statement that diplomacy and engagement will be pursued by the US, and that development shall be a core pillar of American power. This will be very significant to our diplomacy and development agenda as the Philippines is the leading contender to be Chair of G77+ China for 2010.

Allow me to stress the importance of our partnership with the US by making a correlation between the US’ avowed foreign policy priorities and the interests and policy thrusts of ASEAN in general, and the Philippines
in particular.

One foreign policy priority of the US is nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. The Philippines will be at the forefront of this issue when it assumes the presidency of the Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in May, 2010 in New York. We seek the full support and cooperation of ASEAN and the US in achieving substantive results in this endeavor.

ASEAN has a vital stake in pursuing denuclearization in the region. We thus join the international community in strongly condemning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) for conducting nuclear tests which clearly violated UN Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874, and in urging DPRK to return to the Six-Party Talks.

But is it possible the DPRK does not really care about the UN Security Resolutions nor about world opinion? Its continuing provocative actions, despite universal concern and condemnation, do not this suggest that it aims to achieve nuclear status, and use this as leverage and bargaining chip until it is accepted as one of the nuclear powers? If true, this would truly be a major setback for a denuclearized Korean peninsula, and for peace and stability not only for the region but the world over. And if DPRK attains nuclear status, couldn’t Iran be far behind?

Another priority in US foreign policy is combating violent extremism.

In this regard, the Philippines proposes to enhance ASEAN-US cooperation in specific areas, such as training in the fields of intelligence, legal aspects, legal interdiction and post-terrorism incidents investigation and consequence management. And this becomes even more relevant in the light of the recent tragic terrorist bombings in Jakarta.

We are glad that President Obama has welcomed efforts on interfaith dialogue during his speech in Cairo.

This is one area of great importance to the Philippines, which will host the Special NAM Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace on 1-3 December, 2009.

The US’ pursuit of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East finds unanimous support among the ASEAN countries. It is also of paramount interest for the Philippines as there are about 2 million Filipino nationals in the Middle East who will greatly benefit from the peace and stability in the region.

In a similar manner, the Philippines is committed to pursue the completion of the peace processes with the CPP-NPA-NDF and the MILF, and the full implementation of the final peace agreement with the MNLF. In fact, we resumed the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (JASIG) with CPP-NPA-NDF, and will soon agree to a mutual ceasefire in Central Mindanao as soon as peace talks with the MILF resumes.

We note the determination of the United States to pursue global economic recovery and growth, and tackle the global economic crisis. In the same vein, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, speaking as head of the Asian Group at the 15th NAM Summit in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, reiterated the need to expand and multi-lateralize the Chang Mai initiative to ensure that the ASEAN region is in a better position to address the global economic crises.

As Secretary Clinton herself said, the US intends to “update and create vehicles for cooperation” with partners.

In this respect, the Philippines is optimistic about the vast potential for closer economic ties between ASEAN and the US.

We are also pleased to observe that the Obama administration has placed climate change and the environment as foreign policy priorities. We share this priority, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

The developing countries and archipelagic nations such as the Philippines are most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. It is for this reason that the Philippines actively participates in different platforms to address this, 9such as the Coral Triangle Initiative on the conservation of coral reefs and biodiversity.

The US foreign policy priority is “to support and encourage democratic governments that protect the rights of, and deliver results for, their people.” This is fully shared by ASEAN.

The launching of the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights in October clearly reflects ASEAN’s commitment to promote and protect human rights. However, this commitment needs to be complemented by significant actions. Hence, the Philippines will continue to be a strong and consistent voice in ASEAN in calling for the unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees in Myanmar, and their inclusion in the democratization and election process in 2010.

Indeed, taking the US foreign policy priorities as a point of departure, we are optimistic that the wide spectrum of areas of cooperation between the ASEAN and the US can only lead to a stronger ASEAN-US partnership.

Finally, I wish to congratulate the co-chairs, Singapore and the US, for the successful stewardship of the ASEAN-US Dialogue for the last three years. It will be the Philippines’ challenge to rise above your outstanding legacy.

Thank you.