October 2, 2003

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Question and Answer Session: Ambassador Francis Ricciardone with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) October 1, 2003

U.S. SUPPORTS STRONG PHILIPPINE DEMOCRACY
(Transcript: Amb. Ricciardone Oct. 1 remarks)

Who is the U.S. choice for the next president of the Philippines?

Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone answered what has been a long-standing question October 1, during a briefing in Manila to the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines. "The person who will best lead a strong Philippines' democracy would be the person that the Filipinos choose in May 2004," he said.

Responding to questions about the upcoming presidential election in the Philippines, the U.S. Ambassador to that country emphasized: "Our only interest is to see a strong Philippines democracy -- and thus a strong, prosperous Philippines -- emerge from a lawful, peaceful, democratic process. Such an election can only reinvigorate any democracy, and we are confident this will happen here."

Ricciardone said President Bush will be visiting the Philippines on the invitation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when he travels to Southeast Asia for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum ministerial meeting later in October. "The emphasis," the ambassador said, "will be on partnership and maturity of the relationship between equals." He acknowledged, however, U.S. willingness to provide the Philippines with additional development assistance.

Regarding the Philippines' fight against terrorism, Ricciardone said: "The Philippines government is putting heart and soul into the effort." The United States is providing aid for this, he said, noting the recent half million-dollar grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency to help the Government of the Philippines maritime organization strengthen the Seafarer Identification System.

"We're concerned about terrorism in the Philippines," Ricciardone said. "We agree with the Government of the Philippines that you have to tackle the problem on many fronts. You need to strengthen the rule of law with good laws and good law enforcement."

The administrations of Arroyo and Bush, the ambassador said, agree that to confront terrorism it is necessary to also overcome poverty. "Not because poverty causes terrorism," Ricciardone said. "There are lots of poor people in the country who are not terrorists. But poverty can incubate terrorism, poverty and disenfranchisement. So, we're working in all those fronts with your government."

The problems of terrorism and poverty, he acknowledged, will not be solved in the near future. But in the end, he said, "democracies will prevail. The United States will prevail. The Philippines will prevail."

Following is a transcript of the ambassador's remarks:
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It's a very special pleasure to be with you all again this morning. This is the third time I'm meeting with this distinguished group of journalists in the Philippines who cover foreign affairs. The third time in about a year and a half. That is probably a good pace - about every six months or so. We last met in January, however, so I am a little behind schedule. At that point, I highlighted some of the advances I had seen over the year 2002 in the United States-Philippines relations, and I looked ahead to some of the milestones that I hoped we would accomplish this year. And amidst the world crisis over Iraq, and the continuing war against terrorism, the challenges and opportunities of the globalizing economy, even SARS, the United States and the Philippines working together have accomplished a lot for our mutual benefit. I think there is no better testimony to the progress in that relationship -- to what our two Presidents have called the "maturation" of our relationship, of our partnership -- than the fact that soon, the two Presidents will have met twice, in this one year in full-scale formal state visits. Today, of course, we look ahead to President Bush's visit here to Manila in only a few weeks.

The White House and Malacanang will make the appropriate announcements of further details regarding the visit of President Bush, so I don't intend to offer you a real "briefing" on the details of that visit. I will offer one note of caution. Please believe only what you hear and read coming from the White House and Malacanang on this visit, and do not accept as fact the things you are hearing from any other sources in the Philippines; including, I'm sorry to say, in the Philippines media, where sometimes they do not check the facts. There is some nonsense today, for example, for the past couple of days, about American agents running all around taking over the Philippines, taking over the House of Representatives. Somebody was quoted in one of today's newspapers as claiming that there are a hundred agents. It's simply nonsense. There's nothing to it. It's false, fabrication. I don't know what the purpose is. There are no Americans at the House of Representatives, have not been, a few probably visited for two days in September, earlier in September, when an advance party came from the White House. There have been no others since. They didn't take over the place. Perhaps this information is going on because the House is out of session, and people cannot see the truth for themselves. So a lot of misinformation is coming out.

Please trust what Malacanang says and the White House says regarding the visit. I can confirm having been in Washington in the middle of September, that the visit is very much "on." President Bush looks forward to his visit as a way of advancing our partnerships still further. You will see from our Mission Statement card, that my colleagues have been carrying around, that I carry around for the past year and a half, that President Bush has charged us at the American Embassy to "Revitalize and to carry to maturity the US-Philippines partnership and alliance, by strengthening our mutual security, building our mutual prosperity, and providing excellent service to Americans and Filipinos." That's our mission. Our two Presidents really have led the way in that revitalizing and maturing of the relationship.

As one of more than 130,000 Americans living in this beautiful country, and particularly as a foreign diplomat, it is my privilege to see so much of what works so well in this country: What's right about the Philippines. And that is just one reason why I value the prospect of President Bush's visit here. His visit will offer Filipinos the opportunity to show the world their warm hospitality, their vibrant democracy, their industriousness, their human values -- including a profound commitment to peace, reconciliation, and development.

It is no secret that these are times of stress for the Philippines, the United States and countries around the world. But too often, media highlight the negatives, and ignore the everyday accomplishments and opportunities. The media emphasize "travel advisories," for example, when the larger message is that people -- both world leaders, and ordinary citizens -- are traveling to the Philippines and living here safely, enjoyably, and productively. (In the past few days, it was the Philippines media, not foreign governments, that first warned the world public about an Abu Sayyaf threat against Philippines ferry boats.) Wherever President Bush goes, the world watches, because the world media goes there too. So his visit to the Philippines is an occasion for Filipinos to show to the world what makes them most proud about their country.

What are the United States' expectations and enduring interests in the Philippines, which President Bush will be coming here to support?

We want to see this country -- our ally -- prosper as a democracy. Like us, the Philippines is heading into an election year. Though our elections come only late next year, in the United States candidates are already staking their claims for popular support. Elsewhere in this region, Malaysia, after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad retires this year, will move toward a general election some time in 2004. So will Indonesia, with its first-ever presidential elections via direct suffrage.

So, I guess you could say that the United States is not neutral about the Philippines elections, and does back a "candidate." And that candidate is: Philippines democracy.

Our only interest is to see a strong Philippines democracy -- and thus a strong, prosperous Philippines -- emerge from a lawful, peaceful, democratic process. Such an election can only reinvigorate any democracy, and we are confident this will happen here. Hotly contested elections, lawful campaigning, and impassioned debate strengthen the democratic process. Whether in the United States or in the Philippines, we look forward to an exciting 2004, with elements of lofty public inspiration mixed with moments of perhaps less lofty public entertainment.

Whether inspiring or merely entertaining, whether in an election season or at other times, the mass media have a vital and often courageous contribution to make in strengthening any democracy. Responsibility, professionalism, and courage mark the media, the best of the media, in the strongest democracies. Sadly, journalists in this country sometimes need to show more than the usual courage and sacrifice. In this year alone, six journalists reportedly have been killed in the Philippines. Since 1986, 38 have lost their lives. We share President Arroyo's outspoken concern over incidents of violence against Filipino journalists.

But many politicians and many in the media here seem to focus almost exclusively on such problems of this country. These cannot be denied and must not be ignored. But, the strengths of the Philippines are what most strike Americans who come here for business, for pleasure, for diplomacy, for joint military training, or for any other good purpose. For over a century, Americans have seen this country's extraordinary human and natural advantages, and we have looked on this country with optimism and with confidence. Yes, we experience the everyday frustrations and the challenges that other foreigners and Filipinos themselves face here, but the charms of this country seem peculiarly to captivate Americans.

Let me suggest just a few of the headlines that Americans might have expected to see here in the Philippines, just since we met together earlier this year:

"U.S. Business Community Finds Government Eager to Address Issues of Concern"

Last month, a delegation of American business leaders from 15 prestigious American companies visited Manila. They enjoyed warm and full access to the Government at all levels, including visits with the President, the Speaker of the House, Jose de Venezia, members of the Senate, and Justices of the Supreme Court. As one of the leaders of the delegation put it, "The cooperative spirit of the government and the remarkable access it has given to investors make you believe any obstacle can be overcome."

Another headline:

"Micro finance Programs a Success Story for Poverty Alleviation"

Central Bank Governor Buenaventura related to those same American executives the burgeoning success of micro financing projects in the Philippines. He noted that small-scale borrowers - mostly women -- in the USAID-sponsored Micro enterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) program have taken nearly three billion pesos in small loans. And they repay those loans at a phenomenal rate -- around 98% -- making them a commercially attractive proposition for banks. USAID programs alone -- remember, there are other Government of the Philippines programs -- but USAID programs alone, provide micro finance services to almost 110,000 of the working poor in this country. Thanks to such an exemplary public-private partnership, micro finance is spreading rapidly in the Philippines, wherever peace permits, even into the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. This is very good news, for as our two Presidents have often affirmed, alleviating poverty is essential to dry up the seedbeds of terrorism and despair.

How about another headline:

"Philippine Congress Passes Important Reform Legislation"

President Arroyo and the Congress deserve credit for their work in passing such important reform legislation, beginning at the outset of President Arroyo's term, with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and the Anti Money Laundering Act, both in 2001. But just since we last met in January, the Government has passed the Government Procurement Reform Act, the Special Purpose Vehicle Act, amendments to the Anti Money Laundering Act to bring them up to world standards, an Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act led by a member of the opposition, Senator Estrada; the Act Rationalizing the Excise Tax on Automobiles, the Absentee Voting law and the Dual Citizenship law. The Administration and the Congress are now considering other important legislation aimed at accelerating implementation of the EPIRA, improving revenue collections, increasing compensation for the judiciary, and strengthening protection for intellectual property. All these reform measures, when passed and effectively implemented, will improve investor confidence and spur economic growth in the Philippines.

We hope, too, that the Senate will soon ratify the remaining six of the twelve United Nations counter terrorism conventions, as President Arroyo herself urged in her State of the Nation address last July. We understand from the senate leaders that these conventions are queued up and ready for ratification at any time.

Also on the fiscal front, Secretary Camacho, Customs Commissioner Bernardo and Internal Revenue Commissioner Parayno have improved tax administration through tighter enforcement, an anti-corruption drive targeting errant officials, and technological innovations. As a result, the Philippines has made important strides against the steady and worrisome fiscal deterioration over the previous years, and the government likely will meet its full-year deficit target. All of this represents steady progress against official corruption and for good governance -- a centerpiece of President Arroyo's legacy to the nation.

And it's a process in which the United States has been proud to assist with some technical assistance.

And one last headline:

"A Pathway to Peace in Mindanao"

Back in January, I spoke to you of our hope that the leaders of the communities in troubled areas of the Philippines would choose development over violence, and enforce peace rather than despair. In May, following President Bush's announcement of his support for peace and development in Mindanao, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chairman, the late Chairman Hashim Salamat, wrote President Bush of his vision for peace and development. Only weeks before his death, he evidently had concluded that it was time to put the MILF on a new course in the campaign for the rights of the Bangsamoro people. A course neither of surrender, nor of defeat, but rather a far more heroic and difficult choice - that of peaceful and legitimate political struggle. If and when his successors can come to terms with the Government of the Philippines to build peace and to develop Mindanao for the future of its children after a generation of war and lawlessness, the United States (and I dare say many others) will be proud to support that development process. If this happy eventuality does unfold soon, it will be thanks to the vision and courage of the leaders of the two parties to the conflict and also to supportive parties like Malaysia who have shepherded this process over many years.

But we cannot underestimate the challenges here. A meaningful peace must go beyond nice words, whether on paper or at press conferences. The United States will not provide economic development assistance in areas controlled by the MILF, if that organization maintains its ties to outlaws, terrorists in violation of the written testimony of Chairman Salamat in his last days. We are particularly concerned about the continuing presence in Mindanao of the Jemaah Islamiyah, a foreign terrorist group outlawed by the United Nations. The JI does not bring peace and development, but only death and destruction to all who deal with it. And at a time when the MILF is looking for a United Nations interest in its cause, it makes no sense if the MILF is having anything to do with a foreign terrorist organization outlawed by the United Nations.

I've brought a "door prize" with me today for you. These are copies of a documentary film telling the story of community leaders in Mindanao who chose peace. They are former Moro National Liberation Front combatants who participated in a USAID-sponsored program, following the MNLF cease-fire in 1996. Filipinos will recall that the new Secretary of Defense, Ed Ermita, a man I much admire, was instrumental in establishing that agreement under President Ramos. We designed the "Livelihood Enhancement and Peace" or LEAP Program to support that agreement by helping former combatants reintegrate into normal, civilian life and provide good livings for themselves and their children. Today, more than 21,000 former MNLF combatants have graduated from our "LEAP" program - that is a higher number than you'll see recorded in the film if you wish to take one with you, because the program is rapidly advancing. Almost all of these graduates have already become successful farmers and seaweed growers and fish farmers. Four thousand more, the last ones, are waiting to take the same "LEAP," and we will continue that important support until all 4,000 have graduated. We would be glad to see the MILF choose peace -- a durable peace for the long term -- and thereby enable people in its areas to take advantage of similar development programs to build productive, and peaceful communities.

So, good things are happening in this country. Much more remains to be accomplished, but Americans are utterly confident that they can be accomplished, even amidst the growing excitement over the Presidential campaign.

Let me close by thanking you again for inviting me here today, and open the floor to questions.

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Question and Answer Session: Ambassador Francis Ricciardone with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) October 1, 2003

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