U.S.-RP military deal delay criticized

U.S.-RP military deal delay criticized

MANILA (AFP): A member of a US Congress mission expressed
disappointment yesterday at a delayed agreement to allow joint
military training with the Philippines.

"I am personally disappointed that the Philippines has been
slow in ratifying the agreement with the US because our ships
can't come in here unless it's ratified and that's part of the
two-way street" former senator Larry Pressler, here with the US
congress's National Security Caucus (NSC), said.

Pressler was part of an NSC mission that met Philippine
President Fidel Ramos yesterday. The proposed visiting forces
agreement provides a legal framework for the prosecution of US
soldiers participating in the maneuvers who commit crimes here.

The absence of such an agreement has prevented US forces from
conducting training exercises or even ship visits in the
Philippines despite a mutual defense treaty between the two.