Embassy of the United States in Manila

Ambassador Ricciardone’s interview with media at the AMORE summit, March 10, 2005

Q: (inaudible)…initiative of the Arroyo administration…?

A: I see real determination and energy, and dynamism to take on this terrible problem. The President has appointed good people to deal with this. She is dealing with it. We’d like to see the Department of Justice roll up its sleeves and prosecute people, but we see good people in the Department of Justice. We see the Ombudsman, we see the new Secretary of Finance and former secretaries working on this. I’m optimistic that this country can turn the corner. I believe that it can happen and the Philippines can take its rightful place in the sun.

Q: Mr. Ambassador, how would you rate the growing military relations between the Philippines and China?

A: I think you would have to substantiate what that means exactly. I’ve seen claims in the newspaper…

Q: For instance, the one million dollars in military assistance, how will this…?

A: …because I’ve not seen that in the news. When you got a million dollars, let’s talk about it. I haven’t seen it.

Q: Sir, how about the supposed reduction of the U.S. financial aid to the Philippines? It has been reported from Washington that the U.S. Government would reduce its financial aid to the Philippines?

A: It is far more complicated than it has been portrayed, I think, in the Philippine media and on the Internet. Far, far more complicated. We don’t have a single appropriations process. The President of the United States doesn’t say, “oh this year I think I’ll give so much to country X, Y or Z – to the Philippines, Egypt, somewhere else.” There are lots of independent appropriations that happen. The process itself is complicated. At the start of our budget year, we make requests to the Congress. For military assistance—that comes from one part of the executive branch. Economic assistance—that comes from another one. Police assistance comes from another one. Those go to our Office of Management and Budget. It goes to the Congress and it goes to different committees of the Congress. So to take a collection of requests and compare them to what the actual results were last year is comparing apples to oranges.

Now, I’m not saying there might not be reductions overall or individual ones. There probably are—there probably should be, if aid is successful. Any successful aid program is short term, is temporary, it has a glide path downwards. Aid is supposed to go out of existence, whether in the military area or the economic one. We hope that our beneficiaries would become stronger and independent over time. So, if we’re doing the right things, if the recipient countries, if the donor countries are all doing the right things, then over time recipient countries don’t have to receive aid anymore. And I’m confident that the Philippines can turn that corner with good leadership, with wise policies, with strong actions against corruption, with raising your own revenues.

So, the United States is going to stay. I wouldn’t panic. I think it’s misinformed to panic over the international donor community in general, and the United States in particular, as if it is in some way pulling the rug out from underneath you. We’re not going to do that. We’re on a steady course. Everything is going according to plan. We’re in close conversation and dialogue, and at the end of the day, all your friends -- not just the United States -- all your friends want your success. All of us want to see the Philippines be strong and prosper under your leadership and your decisions. You can do that. Okay? So, don’t worry. Don’t panic.

Q: Thank you so much, Mr. Ambassador.

* * * * *


Ambassador Ricciardone’s interview with media at the AMORE summit, March 10, 2005 Q: (inaudible)…initiative of the Arroyo administration…? A: I see real determination and energy, and dynamism to take on this terrible problem. The President has appointed good people to deal with this. She is dealing with it. We’d like to see the Department of Justice roll up its sleeves and prosecute people, but we see good people in the Department of Justice. We see the Ombudsman, we see the new Secretary of Finance and former secretaries working on this. I’m optimistic that this country can turn the corner. I believe that it can happen and the Philippines can take its rightful place in the sun. Q: Mr. Ambassador, how would you rate the growing military relations between the Philippines and China? A: I think you would have to substantiate what that means exactly. I’ve seen claims in the newspaper… Q: For instance, the one million dollars in military assistance, how will this…? A: …because I’ve not seen that in the news. When you got a million dollars, let’s talk about it. I haven’t seen it. Q: Sir, how about the supposed reduction of the U.S. financial aid to the Philippines? It has been reported from Washington that the U.S. Government would reduce its financial aid to the Philippines? A: It is far more complicated than it has been portrayed, I think, in the Philippine media and on the Internet. Far, far more complicated. We don’t have a single appropriations process. The President of the United States doesn’t say, “oh this year I think I’ll give so much to country X, Y or Z – to the Philippines, Egypt, somewhere else.” There are lots of independent appropriations that happen. The process itself is complicated. At the start of our budget year, we make requests to the Congress. For military assistance—that comes from one part of the executive branch. Economic assistance—that comes from another one. Police assistance comes from another one. Those go to our Office of Management and Budget. It goes to the Congress and it goes to different committees of the Congress. So to take a collection of requests and compare them to what the actual results were last year is comparing apples to oranges. Now, I’m not saying there might not be reductions overall or individual ones. There probably are—there probably should be, if aid is successful. Any successful aid program is short term, is temporary, it has a glide path downwards. Aid is supposed to go out of existence, whether in the military area or the economic one. We hope that our beneficiaries would become stronger and independent over time. So, if we’re doing the right things, if the recipient countries, if the donor countries are all doing the right things, then over time recipient countries don’t have to receive aid anymore. And I’m confident that the Philippines can turn that corner with good leadership, with wise policies, with strong actions against corruption, with raising your own revenues. So, the United States is going to stay. I wouldn’t panic. I think it’s misinformed to panic over the international donor community in general, and the United States in particular, as if it is in some way pulling the rug out from underneath you. We’re not going to do that. We’re on a steady course. Everything is going according to plan. We’re in close conversation and dialogue, and at the end of the day, all your friends -- not just the United States -- all your friends want your success. All of us want to see the Philippines be strong and prosper under your leadership and your decisions. You can do that. Okay? So, don’t worry. Don’t panic. Q: Thank you so much, Mr. Ambassador. * * * * *
	Last Update :: 01/05/2007
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