Arroyo seeks Obama anew on Mindanao peace issues Christian V. Esguerra Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 08, 2009
MANILA, Philippines -- In her final participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Singapore this week, President Macapagal-Arroyo will seek a possible one-on-one meeting with US President Barack Obama to discuss a variety of issues including the Mindanao peace process.
Instrumental in making that meeting happen will be US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who will have a brief stopover in Manila en route to the summit venue, according to Malacanang.
“If there would be an opportunity for sideline talks between the two (Arroyo and Obama), we would seize it because we continue to dialogue with our American friends on many things, beginning with the arrival of Secretary Hillary Clinton this week,” Gary Olivar, deputy presidential spokesperson, said in Filipino.
Olivar did not say whether the government was eyeing a formal bilateral engagement with Obama or the more informal “pull-aside” meeting.
To be sure, Obama and Ms Arroyo will cross paths at the APEC summit owing his scheduled dialogue with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes the Philippines, according to Anthony Golez, another deputy presidential spokesperson.
Golez said the ASEAN-Obama meeting would tackle issues such as regional business development and cooperation, and climate change.
Clinton, the top US diplomat, is set to visit Manila on Nov. 12 and 13. Her spokesperson Ian Kelly had said she would “hold consultations with senior Filipino officials, highlighting the US-Philippines treaty alliance.”
Olivar and Golez declined to comment on whether the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement would particularly be on the agenda.
Another issue most likely to be discussed with Clinton is the Moro insurgency in the south.
“We always welcome anybody who could help, whether from Malaysia or the Organization of Islamic Conference, or other countries like Japan and the US,” Olivar said.
