Transcript of Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney’s Remarks
at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila
December 6, 2006

 

Thank you very much for being here.  I came here today to talk to Secretary Romulo. We are working together to fix a problem concerning the seizure of Lance Cpl. Smith and the Visiting Forces Agreement.

You all know that the Visiting Forces Agreement governs our military assistance in this country, such as that which we provided after the Leyte mudslides earlier this year, and as we are doing now in response to Super Typhoon “Reming.”  In fact, I will welcome our first relief flight tomorrow at the airport.

Lance Corporal Smith is not a private citizen - he is a member of the U.S. military.  He was here on a military mission, so he is governed by the Visiting Forces Agreement.  It is important to all of us that we get this sorted out so that all sides are in compliance.  

I am not here to complain about the verdict.  It was carried out in a Philippine court with a Philippine judge as our agreement calls for.  This is simply an the issue of complying with the remaining piece, which is that Lance Cpl. Smith belongs in U.S. custody until the conclusion of all judicial proceedings.

Our countries have been partners for many, many years.  We fought together – our fathers and grandfathers – to defend freedom in the Philippines and to liberate the Philippines.  We worked together after the mudslides in Leyte and now in Bicol, and we are going to continue to do that.  It is in that spirit that we work together as friends to solve problems.  I am very hopeful and confident that we will continue as partners to work through this and to fix this.

Thank you all very much.  I hope you will all join me tomorrow in welcoming the U.S. relief flight.

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