DFA chief vows transparency in negotiations for increased US presence in PH

From InterAksyon (Aug 12): DFA chief vows transparency in negotiations for increased US presence in PH

Amid protests over the planned increased presence of United States military in the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Monday vowed to keep the negotiations for the US use of its former military bases in the country transparent.

“Transparency is extremely important in these negotiations. Our people need to know that our laws are observed and our interests are protected at all times,” he said at the start of negotiations on the Philippines-US Framework Agreement on increased Rotational Presence at Camp Aguinaldo.

The DFA secretary also gave the assurance that the agreement will not violate the Philippine Constitution, which among other things, bans the presence of nuclear arms in the country. A number of US warships are known to carry nuclear missiles.

“Our Philippine negotiators have been given parameters that require them to ensure that our Constitution and laws are fully respected. They have been tasked to ensure that Philippine interests are preserved and promoted,” del Rosario added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is participating in the negotiations that are officially between the defense officials of the two countries.

Del Rosario said the negotiators have also been tasked to keep the media, the public, and Congress informed of the details of the talks.

“Last week, (Defense) Secretary (Voltaire) Gazmin and l formally advised Congress of these negotiations. We committed to brief them after every round of negotiations. The Philippine Panel will also brief media after every round and make themselves available for media queries,” he said.

Del Rosario said the following may be expected with increased US “rotational presence” will “vastly improve…the Philippines’ ability to provide Filipinos and the region with timely and responsive humanitarian and disaster relief.”

He said other expectations include:

· Military modernization can begin even before we are able to purchase the necessary defense systems.
· Deterrence can be enhanced even before modernization.
· Maritime security and maritime domain awareness will be given a boost even before we have ships and aircraft that the Philippines needs.
· Even before the Philippines has the advanced hardware it wishes for, it will know how to operate and maintain them.

Territorial integrity

The Philippines has declared a defense policy of allowing the increase of US military presence amid its territorial dispute with China. Without mentioning China in these negotiations, del Rosario noted that the talks for a framework agreement on this will ensure “the security of our people and the territorial integrity of our nation.”

He said the negotiations require that diplomacy and defense work hand in hand.

“For Philippine diplomacy, this raises our already deep and historic strategic relations with a key partner to even greater heights. By highlighting our treaty commitments under our Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement, we serve to keep our region stable and secure,” he said.

Even as the Philippine action increases the militarization of the Asia-Pacific region, del Rosario talked about keeping the peace.

“Our region would also need to know that we are steadfastly for peace; but that we stand ready to tap every resource, to call on every alliance, to do what is necessary in order to defend what is ours, to secure our nation and to keep our people safe,” he said.

The new framework agreement also forms part of the United States' pivot to Asia.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/68434/dfa-chief-vows-transparency-in-negotiations-for-increased-us-presence-in-ph