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