Related links:
-- Remarks by President Bush to the Philippine
Congress
-- Remarks by President Bush in an exchange
of toasts
-- Remarks by Presidents Bush and Arroyo in
a photo opportunity
-- Transcript: Background briefing by a senior
U.S. administration official
Joint Statement
between the United States of America
and the Republic of the Philippines
October 18, 2003
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo warmly welcomed President George
W. Bush to Malacanang today for the first State visit of an American
President to Manila in over 30 years. As the two Presidents highlighted
during President Macapagal-Arroyo's State visit to the United States
last May, the ties between the Philippine and American peoples are deeply
rooted in shared history and values, as well as in a shared commitment
to global peace, security and prosperity.
President Macapagal-Arroyo expressed her appreciation for the support
extended by President Bush to the Veteran Equity bills pending in both
houses of the U.S. Congress, designed to enhance benefits for Filipino
veterans of World War II residing in the United States. Both Presidents
noted that the American and Filipino fighting men of World War II remain
a strong bond between the peoples of both nations. President Bush announced
the doubling of U.S. funding for medical equipment at the Veterans Medical
Center in Quezon City. President Bush highlighted his respect for the
impressive contributions of Filipino-Americans to American social, cultural
and economic life.
The two Presidents focused their discussion on the security challenges
facing the United States and the Philippines, agreeing that the U.S.
-Philippine partnership has taken on new vitality and importance in
the context of the global war on terrorism. Presidents Macapagal-Arroyo
and Bush reviewed recent successes in the war on terrorism, noting with
satisfaction that a number of terrorist killers have been brought to
justice. They agreed that while progress had been made in attacking
terrorist organizations both globally and regionally, much work remains
to be done.
President Bush praised President Macapagal-Arroyo's courage and strength
in confronting terrorism in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia. He
expressed particular appreciation for Philippine initiatives to improve
and expand international counterterrorism cooperation and thanked President
Macapagal-Arroyo for her leadership working with key ASEAN partners
to address the terrorist threat on a regional basis. The two leaders
agreed that such cooperation, particularly in the area of information
sharing, is an essential component of the war on terrorism.
In recognition of the strength and vitality of the alliance, as well
as its vital role in promoting regional security and combating global
terrorism, President Bush informed President Macapagal-Arroyo that he
had designated the Philippines as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA). President
Macapagal-Arroyo thanked President Bush for this honor and expressed
hope that this move would facilitate the modernization of the Philippine
Armed Forces and the strengthening of our defense partnership.
In keeping with their May 19 pledge to conduct a comprehensive security
assessment, the two Presidents also reviewed and endorsed the findings
of the 2003 Joint Defense Assessment (JDA) of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines' capabilities and requirements. The purpose of the JDA is
to assist the government of the Philippines in developing a defense
program that will improve the ability of the Philippine military to
respond to threats to Philippine security.
President Arroyo noted the determination of her government to move
forward on an ambitious program of military reform, including increased
allocation of resources to Philippine national defense. President Bush
committed to assist the Philippines in this effort.
The two Presidents agreed that their respective defense establishments
would embark on a multi-year plan to implement the key recommendations
of the Joint Defense Assessment. They agreed to direct their defense
establishments to finalize details of the plan and begin its implementation.
President Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed substantial new U.S. programs of
law enforcement training, equipment, and expertise in support of her
efforts to strengthen the rule of law and to reform and strengthen the
Philippines National Police and other law enforcement agencies.
President Bush commended President Macapagal-Arroyo for her steadfast
leadership in pursuing economic reforms in the Philippines and welcomed
her pledge to maintain resolve in pursuing reforms in revenue collection,
energy privatization and intellectual property rights protection.
President Bush praised President Macapagal-Arroyo's determination to
alleviate poverty and other socio-economic grievances that are too often
exploited by terrorist organizations to recruit followers. President
Arroyo welcomed the new, six-year U.S. initiative to strengthen education
in the poorest areas of the Philippines, particularly Mindanao, as supportive
of her efforts. This new program complements the Philippine government's
efforts to uplift the communities in the Autonomous Region of Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) and expand their access to education and training.
The two Presidents discussed the Philippine government's efforts to
establish a durable, effective peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF). They expressed appreciation for Malaysia's role in facilitating
the negotiating process. President Bush emphasized U.S. willingness
to provide diplomatic and financial assistance in support of peace but
emphasized that the MILF must first fully renounce terror and demonstrate
its commitment to peaceful political negotiations.
Presidents Bush and Macapagal-Arroyo discussed the situation in Iraq.
The two leaders reiterated their shared commitment to a free Iraq at
peace with its neighbors and expressed unwavering determination to continue
the important work of helping the Iraqi people build a stable, just
and prosperous country that poses no threat to the world. President
Bush thanked President Macapagal-Arroyo for the contributions made by
the Philippines to security and reconstruction in Iraq. The two Presidents
affirmed the vital role of the United Nations in postwar Iraq and stressed
the need for more countries to contribute peacekeeping and humanitarian
contingents to Iraq as that country prepares for sovereignty under a
democratic regime.
The two leaders welcomed the six-party talks in Beijing and reiterated
their intention to work with other members of the Asia Pacific region
to ensure the complete, verifiable and irreversible elimination of North
Korea's nuclear weapons program.
President Bush congratulated the Philippines on its nomination by Asian
countries to join the United Nations Security Council and expressed
confidence that the Philippines would contribute to global peace and
security.
President Bush and President Macapagal-Arroyo concluded the visit by
celebrating the impressive gains made in Philippine-U.S. relations under
their administrations, expressing confidence that today's State visit
marks another concrete step forward in the development of a modern,
mature relationship between friends and equals.
###
Related links:
-- Remarks by President Bush to the Philippine
Congress
-- Remarks by President Bush in an exchange
of toasts
-- Remarks by Presidents Bush and Arroyo in
a photo opportunity
-- Transcript: Background briefing by a senior
U.S. administration official
