KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (via
PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed excitement about the opportunity
for the Philippines to work for the entry of Russia to the East Asia Summit when Manila
serves as chair and coordinator of the 12th ASEAN Summit next year.
The Philippines will host and chair the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in 2006 in place of Myanmar which
was compelled to yield the group’s rotating chairmanship to save the regional group
from further embarrassment.
Both the United States and the European Union have
threatened to boycott the ASEAN meetings and suspend all aid to the group if Myanmar is
allowed to chair unless its ruling military junta redeems its pledge to introduce
democratic reforms.
"As country coordinator for the ASEAN-Russia
dialogue, I conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that it will be our job to get
them into the East Asia Summit," the President said.
President Arroyo took time off from her very tight
schedule yesterday to meet the Philippine media delegation covering the 11th ASEAN Summit
at the Presidential Suite of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel here.
Looking very fresh and vibrant in a light green
dress with matching shoes, the President exuded confidence and cheer as she spelled out
the new opportunities the Philippines stands to achieve as host of the 2006 ASEAN Summit. (full story)
