6th round of talks on US troops presence in PHL substantive, productive

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 10): 6th round of talks on US troops presence in PHL substantive, productive

The Philippines and United States have made “significant progress” after both sides concluded its 6th round of talks for an agreement that will allow increased rotational presence of American troops in the country.

From March 4 to 6, Philippine and US negotiating panels held negotiations in Washington where they went through the entire draft agreement and reached consensus on many provisions, a Department of Foreign Affairs statement said Monday.

Among these are the proposed accord’s preamble, purpose and scope, definition of terms, ownership of constructed infrastructure, coordination on security, contracting procedures, and resolution of disputes.

An Agreed Minutes issued at the end of talks described the discussions as “substantive and productive” and that “significant progress was made.”

They will meet again in Manila late March to thresh out other issues in the agreement, which is hoped to be signed on or before the visit of US President Barack Obama in the Philippines in April.

“This fresh round has clearly shown the shared commitment of both parties to enhance cooperation in defense, security and related fields, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” said Defense Undersecretary and head of Philippine negotiator Pio Lorenzo Batino.

“The further exchanges of views have helped pave the way for the formulation of mutually agreeable language,” he added.

According to the DFA, the Philippine side presented a full draft text which “more comprehensively articulated the Philippines’ positions” consistent with the Philippine Constitution and laws.

The US, it added also agreed to the Philippine position to include provisions on environment and safety, and opportunities for potential Philippine suppliers of goods, products and services.

“As in the preceding five rounds, the Philippine Negotiating Panel is guided by the principles of full respect for Philippine sovereignty, non-permanence of US troops and no US basing in the Philippines, mutuality of benefits and respect for the Philippine Constitution, including the prohibition against nuclear weapons,” he said.

The US used to maintain large military bases in Clark, Pampanga and Subic Bay in Olongapo, Zambales for decades until Philippine lawmakers voted to close it down in the 1991.

After almost a decade of absence, American forces were allowed in 1998 to return to the county through a mechanism, called the Visiting Forces Agreement -- an accord that permits them to stay for brief periods to hold military drills with Filipino counterparts.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=624000