Feature: Obama-Arroyo meeting successful beyond expectation; RP named US-ASEAN coordinator

Manila (2 August) — Contrary to the rumors the detractors has been sowing around prior to the historic event, the meeting between US President Obama and RP President Arroyo has described as very casual, cordial and an unprecedented success.

President Arroyo is the first Asian President who has ever been invited to the White House during the Obama Administration. This honor was further enhance when during the meeting, President Obama named the Philippines as coordinator between the US and the members of the ASEAN.

“I am looking forward to my travels to Southeast Asia, and the Philippines will be the coordinating country in the US relationship with ASEAN, the primary organization — strategic organization for Southeast Asian countries,” President Obama was reported to have said.

The importance of the Philippines was likened to boxing event when President Obama said “although the Philippines is not the largest of countries, using a phrase in boxing, a punch is above its weight in the international arena.”

Apart from naming the Philippines the US’ liaison to the Asean, President Obama assured that the US will continue to work with the Philippines in fighting terrorism, particularly through intelligence sharing and other forms of cooperation.

“The US will continue to work with us in intelligence-sharing and other forms of cooperation against counter-terrorism,” President Arroyo said.

Economic matters were also discussed during the meeting of the two Presidents. President Arroyo brought up the Save-Our-Industries Act pending in the US Congress, which she said may give the Philippines a bigger market for its products like textiles.

President Arroyo also said that the Philippines will also work on specific industries that can benefit from the country’s relations with the US, bananas production, garments, and seaweeds.

Another issue discussed was that on peace and security, particularly, “on how to strengthen regional cooperation on anti-terrorism.” Also discussed was how to advance the peace process in Mindanao, how the military helped RP in “what I mentioned earlier upgrading the professionalism and effectivity of our soldiers.”

Furthermore, the two Presidents discussed how the two countries must work together especially in more economic engagements with each other that is the way to bring back the global economy to full recovery.

In short if there’s any agreement we made it’s to continue cooperation in all of these areas,” President Arroyo informed in a radio interview made after the meeting.

Indeed, the meeting between President Arroyo and President Obama surpassed all expectations and was a milestone in the relationshipship between the two countries, a very great achievement not only for President Arroyo but for the entire country.

So what reprimand the detractors have been talking about? (PIA