DFA CHIEF: RP HAS NO REGRETS ABOUT IRAQ
MANILA, September 19 , 2004 (STAR) By Aurea Calica - Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said Friday night the Philippine government has no regrets in supporting the United States’ decision to invade Iraq despite United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s statement that it was illegal.
"No, we have no regrets because that was a political and moral position. We wanted to pursue the war on terror and we felt (ousted Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein represented that," Romulo said during the Manila Overseas Press Club’s "Diplomatic Night" Friday at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila.
Annan was quoted as saying the US war in Iraq was illegal as it was done without the approval of the UN Security Council. He said from the UN "charter point of view," there should have been a second UN resolution explicitly authorizing the March 2003 invasion.
US President George W. Bush, however, disputed Annan’s claim and cited the unanimous passage in November 2002 of UN Security Council Resolution 1441, which warned Saddam he faced serious consequences if he were found to be keeping weapons of mass destruction.
Bush said the UN Security Council concluded Saddam was a threat and voted 15-0 to force Saddam to disclose, disarm or face serious consequences.
Romulo noted the differences in opinion but said in the end, what the countries had to ensure was peace and stability in Iraq.
What Annan "says and what he does" should be taken into consideration," Romulo said. He added that though Annan "feels differently" about the Iraq invasion, the UN passed Resolution 1546 recognizing the sovereignty of Iraq.
Subsequently, the people of Iraq would be holding an election and national assembly and write their own constitution, Romulo said.
The Philippines’ all-out support for the US on its decision to use military force against Saddam, however, was said to have been cut when the Arroyo administration pulled out the country’s humanitarian contingent from Iraq to save Angelo dela Cruz, a Filipino truck driver held hostage by Iraqi militants in July.
Romulo admitted the US was "hurt" with the Philippines’ decision but Secretary of State Colin Powell himself said the two countries should remain allies and friends despite strong disagreements.
He said Powell called to congratulate him for his appointment as foreign affairs secretary and conveyed the US’ intention to continue its alliance with the Philippines.
"The bond of friendship goes back a long way and also in the war against terrorism, we need each other as we need all the other countries in the free world," he said.
Romulo said countries should always band together against terrorism because it was an attack against humanity and civilization and not just particular countries.
However, he pointed out national interest should still be the paramount consideration in foreign relations.
"As long as we pursue our national interest that to me is the best description of an independent foreign policy," Romulo said.
He also expressed confidence that there would no "slow down" in assistance or retaliatory acts from the US because of the troop pullout.
"They should not and cannot afford to overlook and bypass the Philippines because of its strategic position," Romulo said.
"Of course they were hurt. Even the best marriage has some (problems... once in a while but the marriage continues and even becomes stronger," he added.
Romulo dismissed claims that Filipinos were becoming targets for massive deportation and other types of harassment because the Philippines failed the US in the war in Iraq.
He said the difficulties were apparently happening to all nationalities and not solely to Filipinos.
Romulo added the over three million Filipinos in the US could not be undermined by the US government as they were becoming an "emerging political force" that could spell a difference in tight elections.
"I think the US realizes this," he said.
Romulo reiterated the ban on deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq will remain until their 100 percent safety will be assured, and even Filipino truck drivers in Iraq’s neighboring countries could not move to Baghdad to work.
He also discounted the possibility of sending Philippine troops to Iraq again soon, saying the government never thought of sending combat troops to Iraq in the first place but only a humanitarian contingent.
Meanwhile, Romulo clarified that the Philippines and China did not enter into any deal for the exploration and development of the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea.
"What will be done in the joint marine seismic undertaking is just research. There is no exploration and certainly there is no development," he said.
Romulo was reacting to a report that the Philippine National Oil Co. and its Chinese counterpart, the China National Offshore Oil Corp., agreed to conduct a $7.5-million marine seismic study to determine oil and gas resources in the Spratlys.
But Romulo said Manila and Beijing never had any "agreement that touched on petroleum or oil exploration" to avoid any conflict with the other claimant-countries.
He pointed out no nation would like to enter into a deal with any claimant to the Spratly islands in order to have continued confidence building.
Romulo said the research or survey of the Spratlys’ structure was different from actual exploration and that senior officials of the claimant-countries’ foreign affairs departments will discuss the issue in an ongoing meeting in Manila.
"We needed to get together so that we could discuss our differences or grievances peacefully," he said.
Romulo said he did not want to preempt the results of senior officials’ meeting but insisted that the marine seismic study to be conducted by the Philippines and China was consistent with the 2002 pact between China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea.
Article 6 of the pact states that "pending a comprehensive and durable settlement of the disputes, the parties concerned may explore or undertake cooperative activities."
Romulo said a third country, like Vietnam and other claimants, could participate in joint projects in the Spratlys.
PNOC president Eduardo Mañalac said the study will determine the petroleum potential of the area but Philippine and Chinese firms will need to apply for an exploration contract if they find oil resources and would to explore the areas further.
The Spratlys is being claimed wholly or in part by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2004
by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved