US, PH panels wrap up 8th round of talks on enhanced defense cooperation

From InterAksyon (Apr 11): US, PH panels wrap up 8th round of talks on enhanced defense cooperation

The negotiating panels of the Philippines and the United States have concluded the eighth round of negotiations for a proposed agreement on enhanced defense cooperation, which officials said represent a “new model for security engagement” between the two allies.

The agreement is widely seen as being rushed ahead of the two-day state visit later this month of US President Barack Obama.

Both sides said Friday they found consensus on key points of a draft agreement.

The chairman of the Philippine Negotiating Panel, Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, said the latest round was “very productive.” There was consensus, he added, on key provisions and modalities that would reflect, among others: full respect for Philippine sovereignty, non-permanence of US troops and no US military basing in the Philippines and a prohibition against weapons of mass destruction.

 

President Benigno S. Aquino earlier instructed the Philippine Panel to comply with and stay within relevant provisions of the Philippine Constitution and laws.

The draft agreement, avowedly anchored on mutuality of benefits, declares that access to and use of Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) facilities and areas by the United States will be “at the invitation of the Philippines and with full respect for the Philippine Constitution and Philippine laws.”

 

In compliance with the Philippine Constitution, the agreement will lay down clearly an understanding between parties for the United States “not to establish a permanent military presence or base in the territory of the Philippines.”

 

The United States has also agreed that any equipment and materiél that the US military may bring into the country “shall not include nuclear weapons,” a sticking point that nationalist groups  have said earlier will surely be honored more in the breach.

Officials said the agreement will have clear provisions on protecting the environment, human health and safety.

 

Undersecretary Batino said Friday: “This round brought us much closer to finding full consensus, and the draft provisions on key points of an enhanced defense cooperation will be submitted to the President for his review.”

The Philippines-United States alliance “continues to be and must remain relevant,” according to panel member Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre, and that in the framework of a dynamic and changing regional architecture, “our only option is to make our alliance stronger if we are to maintain international and regional security.”

Yparraguirre added that “as we strive to further enhance our security cooperation, we are looking into new dimensions of significant strategic and operational value.”

There are potential economic benefits from the agreement resulting from multiplier effects of joint activities under the proposed agreement, she noted.

Significant benefits

Batino underscored the significant benefits to the Philippines that the agreement could bring, especially what he called critical and timely support to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, achievement of the country’s minimum credible defense posture, more expeditious humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and the provision of jobs and other economic opportunities through the local goods and supplies procurement to be made by the United States military.

Yparraguirre said, “Both the Philippines and the United States recognize these are valuable dimensions to this updated framework of cooperation, and we are working together for the realization of the full potentials of this closer defense partnership.”

The agreement being negotiated contemplates a “new model of security engagement” for both the Philippines and the United States, she added.

For his part, Batibno said: “After 15 years of the Visiting Forces Agreement and given current realities, challenges and opportunities, the Philippines is ready for a heightened level of defense cooperation.  This agreement - which should stand on mutual trust - is an idea whose time has come.”

The other members of the Philippine Negotiating Panel are Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya, DOJ Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III and DND Assistant Secretary for Strategic Assessments Raymund Jose Quilop.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/84618/us-ph-panels-wrap-up-8th-round-of-talks-on-enhanced-defense-cooperation