Clinton to show solidarity with Filipinos – Kenney

MANILA – The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit before her scheduled trip to Singapore for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

Clinton said in a speech in Washington that her Manila visit later this week aims to show her solidarity with Filipinos, especially those who were affected by the recent typhoons “Ondoy” (Ketsana), “Pepeng” (Parma), “Ramil” (Lupit) and “Santi” (Mirinae).

Asked why the country was singled out among other Southeast Asian nations affected by typhoons, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney told abs-cbnNEWS.com: “The Philippines is our longest friend.”

Other countries battered by the recent typhoons include Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

“There are so many family ties… When something happens in the Philippines, Americans feel it,” added Kenney, noting that there are many Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the US.

“She said she’s been following closely all of the storms, the devastation,” revealed Kenney. She added that Clinton said: “I’d like to stop and see my Filipino friends, see how they’re doing. Would that be okay?”

Kenney added that the US Embassy is “star struck and excited” about Clinton’s visit.

“This really shows how much the Secretary of State and US government care about the Philippines, an important ally for us. And President [Barack] Obama feels so strongly that we need to be reconnecting with our oldest friends,” she stated.

The US ambassador noted that it is part of Obama’s style to have his Cabinet go out to see America’s old friends as well as make new ones.

“That’s one of the reasons he saw President Arroyo this summer,” she said in a “Dateline Philippines” interview. “So to take time to specifically come over to Manila is a huge compliment.”

Other Cabinet members who have visited the Philippines this year are Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (October) and Defense Secretary Robert Gates (June).

“It’s important to stay in touch with one of our oldest and best friends,” she said, explaining the recent visits of US Cabinet members.

“The Philippines is important… You’ve had a really hard several months. And she wants to be here to say we’re still with you. In good times and bad times, we’re good friends. The Philippines matters both as a nation and as friends,” she commented.

Kenney reiterated that Clinton’s primary purpose for coming to the Philippines is her great interest in the “whole flood-typhoon relief effort here. In fact, she says that’s really why she wants to come, to show her solidarity with the Filipino people.”

“I suspect they’ll talk about several things. Certainly Sec. Clinton would want to hear how things are going on in flood, typhoon relief from President Arroyo and Sec. Romulo,” added Kenney.

Meantime, Kenney said she does not expect Clinton to talk about the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) while in Manila. “It’s unlikely she’d get into these details,” she said.

“But I’m sure she will want to say how pleased she was with our cooperation… that our militaries could be out there immediately, giving medical relief, saving lives, clearing roads. That’s the kind of partnership that benefits real people.”

Our two militaries did flood relief together, and, of course, we who live here know that’s possible because of our VFA,” said Kenney.

“But I can’t speak for the Philippines’ side,” stressed the US Ambassador.

In terms of security, Kenney said she believes that “the Philippines is excited as well to have her. People will welcome her with open arms. She’s well known. She’s very loved here.”

“Sec. Clinton is a big fan of the Philippines,” said Kenney. “She loves the Philippines.”

The US ambassador said she hopes Clinton can also drop by the embassy, pass by the American cemetery and swear in new Peace Corps volunteers. “But all of that depends on time,” noted Kenney.

According to Kenney, she knows that Clinton would love to visit Mindanao and Baguio, but such trips cannot be included in her brief Manila visit.

Meanwhile, she also asked viewers on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) to send their questions for Clinton as the former US First Lady “wants to see and hear from many Filipinos as much as possible.”

Kenney, who is known to be a sports fan, said she would like to know if the US Secretary of State is also into sports. “We don’t know. If I got to ask her a question that would be one that I’d ask: ‘Are you a sports fan?’”

She went on: “I know that I’ve seen her going to baseball games wearing a baseball cap. You knew she grew up in Chicago, she’s now from New York. It’s hard to imagine she’s not a basketball fan.”

ABS-CBN

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