Ramos rejects U.S. bases in RP

Ramos rejects U.S. bases in RP

MANILA (Reuter): President Fidel Ramos yesterday rejected
suggestions that the Philippines again allow the United States to
set up military bases in the country.

He said such an idea was premature and he did not expect the
issue to come up in his talks with U.S. President Bill Clinton,
who is to visit Manila on Saturday and Sunday.

Ramos was asked at his weekly news conference if the
Philippines would consider again hosting U.S. bases in face of
news reports from Washington that the United States was scouting
for new weapons cache arrangements in Asia.

The United States shut down Subic naval base and pulled out
the last of its military forces from the country in 1992 after
Manila rejected a new bases treaty.