Another meeting for IRP talks scheduled by end of January

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 24): Another meeting for IRP talks scheduled by end of January

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Friday announced that another meeting for the Framework Agreement for the Increased Rotational Presence (IRP) will be held in Washington by the end of January.

This will be the 5th round of talks between the US and Filipino panels.

Matters to be discussed includes access and how to enhance defense cooperation with both countries.

Gazmin earlier said that there appears to be an impasse between the Philippine and American panels regarding the ongoing talks on the IRP but expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved.

The issue the DND chief was referring to was the fact that the US panel wants to limit the Philippines access to the temporary facilities that the Americans will construct in the country once the IRP is signed or ratified.

The Philippine side wants access to be equal.

He added that this matter is currently under negotiation as all aspects of the IRP should be beneficial to the country in the long run.

"Eventually, (we are hoping) that both parties will come to an understanding," Gazmin stressed.

American and Filipino negotiators, on the fourth round of talks for the IRP, have admitted to encountering some "gaps" during the course of their two-day meeting in Manila last Oct 1 and 2.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=609224