Four-nation development zone to be revived: Vice-president<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A development zone bordering Brunei,
\nIndonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines is to be revitalized
\nafter it was stalled by the regional economic crisis, the
\nvisiting Philippines vice-president said here Friday.<\/p>\n
Vice-President Teofisto Guingona said he had discussed the
\nrevival of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia
\nGrowth Area (BIMP-EAGA) with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister
\nAbdullah Ahmad Badawi.<\/p>\n
\"The East Asia Growth Area was disrupted by the crisis as well
\nas problems in the south (of Philippines),\" he told a press
\nconference.<\/p>\n
\"But today considering the peace efforts with the MILF (Moro
\nIslamic Liberation Front), hopefully it will soon start.<\/p>\n
\"The determination of (President Gloria) Arroyo's government
\nto improve conditions in the south will revive the BIMP-EAGA.
\nMalaysia has some investments there and we hope it can continue
\nagain,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Guingona, here on a one-day visit, said his government hoped
\nto start peace talks with the MILF \"as early as possible in June\"
\nbut added that Manila had not chosen the venue for talks.<\/p>\n
The MILF has been waging a 23-year rebellion for the
\nestablishment of an independent Islamic state in Mindanao.<\/p>\n
Guingona arrived here earlier Friday on the first leg of a
\nSoutheast Asian tour. He was due to leave for Brunei later
\nFriday. He will also travel to Singapore before attending the
\nAsia-Europe meeting in China.<\/p>\n
He said he would hold general but \"frank exchanges\" with his
\nChinese counterpart, Vice-President Hu Jintao, on confidence-
\nbuilding measures in the disputed Spratlys chain of islands in
\nthe South China Sea.<\/p>\n
The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan
\nare claiming part of all of the potentially oil-rich Spratlys.<\/p>\n
Guingona said he would also raise the problem of drugs and
\npossible cooperation to \"share in our quest for solutions because
\nwe are feeling it in the Philippines.\"<\/p>\n
A senior Arroyo aide has named illegal drugs as the \"greatest
\nthreat\" to Philippine national security, with 1.7 million drug
\ndependents often resorting to crime to feed an annual
\n5.3-billion-dollar habit.<\/p>\n
Arroyo earlier this month blamed \"drug-crazed\" supporters of
\njailed former leader Joseph Estrada for the worst street violence
\nin Manila in 15 years, after one-third of over 200 people
\ndetained or hospitalized were found under the influence of drugs.<\/p>",
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