ASEAN chief commends Arroyo

ASEAN chief commends Arroyo

JAKARTA (AFP): The secretary-general of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has congratulated new Philippine
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and expressed confidence in
her support of the regional body.

In a copy of the letter of congratulations dated Jan. 20 and
made public here on Wednesday, Rodolfo Severino, a Filipino, also
expressed his "heartfelt hope" that Arroyo's presidency would
"signify a transition toward strengthened institutions and
process of government."

In a speech on Tuesday outlining her foreign policy thrusts,
Arroyo told the diplomatic corps in Manila that Philippine
foreign policy decisions will have to be made "in the context of
ASEAN."

She also stressed the need to defend the nation's maritime
territory and natural resources, an apparent reference to the
dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea involving
China, Taiwan and ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines
and Vietnam.