Arroyo urged ASEAN to jointly combat terrorism

Arroyo urged ASEAN to jointly combat terrorism

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Visiting Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on
ASEAN member countries on Tuesday to strengthen cooperation
against terrorism by imposing stricter border controls and
implementing emergency responses to the threat of terrorism.

Arroyo, in a speech delivered at the secretariat of the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) here, stressed
that all 10 members of ASEAN should combine in an all out effort
to curb terrorism as it could jeopardize the livelihoods of the
people in the region.

"Our stake in this is large," said Arroyo, in a 30-minute
unprepared speech.

"... the impact of terrorism and criminality on investment,
tourism and trade (will jeopardize) the people's livelihood,
people's personal safety and the prospects for early economic
recovery," she noted.

Encouraging members of ASEAN to join hands with the
Philippines in implementing emergency responses to terrorist, she
said:

"I invite (Indonesia) and other member nations (of ASEAN) to
the Philippines ... to hold simulation games on emergency
responses to terrorist threats."

In her 30-minute off-the-cuff speech, Arroyo also called for
enhanced economic cooperation in response to the prolonged
economic woes that have plagued the region over the past four
years.

"Our response to renewed economic adversity should be to
deepen further the economic integration of our region," Arroyo
said, noting that a more integrated ASEAN economy meant
"maintaining, if not accelerating further, the timetable for the
ASEAN Free Trade Area, identifying impediments to trade and
investment, and removing them."

Arroyo was visiting the ASEAN secretariat at the end of her
two-day state visit to Indonesia. After concluding her speech,
the Philippine president awarded ASEAN Secretary-General Rudolfo
Serevino the Philippines' Ancient Order of Sakatana Rajah medal
for his services in helping solidify the regional grouping.

On Monday, Arroyo and President Megawati Soekarnoputri agreed
to organize joint naval patrols to prevent illicit arms
trafficking and other transnational crimes such as drug and
people smuggling.

U.S. officials have applauded Arroyo's attempts to encourage
cooperation among ASEAN member countries against such crimes.

The Philippines has become a significant agent in fighting
terrorism in the region as the Manila government has gone through
thick and thin combating the militant Moro Islamic Liberation
Front which wants to set up a separate state in the southern
Philippines.

On Wednesday, Arroyo will fly to the U.S. where she had been
scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on
Friday before returning to Manila.

Her stay in the U.S., however, will be extended until next
Tuesday as she is to meet with President George W.Bush.

After visiting the ASEAN secretariat, Arroyo paid a courtesy
call on People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais
at the Assembly building.

During the meeting, Arroyo reiterated her country's commitment
to backing Indonesia's stance regarding national sovereignty and
national integrity

Arroyo, dressed in purple and accompanied by several members
of her delegation, also told Amien about the Philippine
experience in restoring its economy.

"She told the Indonesian government to seriously consider any
suggestions from the International Monetary Fund concerning
financial matters," Amien, quoting Arroyo, told journalists.