PGMA off to Washington D.C. to attend Nuclear Security Summit
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo left today for Washington, D.C. to join 43 other world leaders attending the
Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) which is hosted by the United States government.
Under the invitation of U.S. President Barack Obama, President Arroyo and the 43 other Heads-of-State will sit
down for the two-day summit to discuss the threat posed by illegal diversion of nuclear materials and to develop
steps to secure vulnerable nuclear materials; combat nuclear smuggling; and deter, detect and disrupt attempts
at nuclear terrorism.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the group will also focus on “promoting nuclear security at the national,
regional and global levels.”
The Philippines is a staunch supporter of global efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism with millions of Filipinos
living and working in many parts of the world.
“As President Arroyo remains fully committed towards protecting its nationals abroad, she intends to actively
cooperate with other leaders to squarely face the challenge posed by nuclear terrorism,” the DFA said.
“The Philippines thus considers the NSS as a complement to ongoing efforts and initiatives to rid the world of
nuclear weapons,” it added.
The NSS comes ahead of the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference which the Philippines
will preside at the United Nations headquarters in New York in May.
The President, who was accompanied by Trade Secretary Jesli Lapus and Press Secretary Crispulo Icban, Jr.,
boarded a chartered Philippine Air Lines flight PR-001 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at
around 8:40 a.m.
She was sent off by Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff
General Delfin Bangit.
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PGMA to define RP position on nuclear terrorism in US Summit
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WASHINGTON DC -- The Philippines is expected to firm up along with more than 40 countries taking part in the
two-day Global Nuclear Security Summit here its commitment to prevent and combat the dangers of nuclear
terrorism through measures that will secure vulnerable nuclear and radiological materials.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will formalize the country’s position when she arrives here Monday (Tuesday,
April 13 in Manila) for the multilateral security meet, which has placed the US capital in another major security
alert since the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
The Summit is said to be largely an initiative of the popular US leader who has just successfully concluded a
new nuclear arms reduction agreement with Russia.
Along with the security initiatives leading to the treaty with Russia, Obama is said to be looking at the
Washington Summit as another cornerstone of his nuclear security policy.
The Summit slated Monday and Tuesday here will be attended by about 46 heads of state, among them from
the so-called nuclear powers and developing countries, almost all of whom have no nuclear facilities or
technology to speak of.
It will focus on seeking international cooperation and improving security measures and protocol for nuclear
materials worldwide which will necessitate the commitment of individual countries.
The White House has explained that the summit will “facilitate discussions on the nature of the threat and
develop steps that can be taken together to secure vulnerable materials, combat nuclear smuggling and deter,
detect and disrupt attempts at nuclear terrorism.”
The world leaders will be welcomed by President Obama at the Walter E. Washington Center, the venue at.
Vernon Place Washington DC.
On the second day of the Summit, Obama will chair the plenary discussions at the Washington Center on the
critical topic “ National Actions to Secure Nuclear Materials and Prevent Illicit Trafficking”.
The discussions will be followed by a working lunch among the world leaders, also at the convention center,
during which Obama will again lead discussions on “ The Role of IAEA in Nuclear Security”.
The US President will close the summit with a press conference.
Expectations are high here that the Summit will result in a communiqué that will reflect the pledges of the
participating countries to efforts “to attain the highest levels of nuclear security, which is essential for
international security as well as the development and expansion of peaceful nuclear energy worldwide.”
It has been an official knowledge here at the US capital that Obama, in pushing the anti-nuclear terrorism
initiatives, has envisioned a four-year timeline within which all nuclear materials must be secured to prevent
them from falling into terrorist hands.
Philippine participation in the Obama-led summit is expected to renew interest in the partnership between the
Philippines and the US in the war on terrorism.
The US considers the Philippines a major ally in the on war on terrorism.
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PGMA to receive 2 awards from U.S., Spain
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Malacanang announced this morning that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will receive two international
awards; one to be given by the United States government for her environmental initiatives, the other by the
Spanish government for her efforts to promote the Spanish language in the Philippines.
In his regular press briefing at the Palace, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Gary Olivar said President Arroyo
will receive the Teddy Roosevelt Award at the sideline of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.
C.
President Arroyo left early this morning for the United States to attend the summit where over 40 countries are
expected to firm up their commitment to combat nuclear terrorism. The gathering, said to be an initiative of US
President Barack Obama, will focus on seeking international cooperation and improving security measures and
protocol for controlling nuclear materials worldwide.
In a statement, Olivar said environmentalist groups in Europe oppose to exploration of natural resources “ought
to know that all our new projects are required to uphold the highest safety and environmental practices, that
affected indigenous communities are required to share with the nation at large in the billion-dollar benefits from
mining. And that is possible, desirable and legally required to pursue what the President calls sustainable
development.”
From the United States, President Arroyo will fly to Spain where she will be conferred the award for promoting
the Spanish language in the Philippines.
During his briefing, Olivar also cited the successful conduct of early voting through automation among overseas
Filipino workers (OFWs).
“We hope and expect that this successful process will continue and carry over the regular elections come May
10, 2010,” Olivar said.
He noted that some of the early congratulations for the auspicious start of overseas voting came from local
politicians belonging to an opposition party. He indicated that owing to the initial success of the automated
voting among the OFWs, the Opposition politicians should now tone down their “intemperate rhetoric” about
unfounded fears of failure of elections and alleged shortcomings of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Olivar pointed out that the Arroyo administration has always supported the Comelec in its “challenging and
unprecedented task,” apparently referring to the first ever conduct of automated voting.
“Perhaps now, on an issue that should transcend politics, we may finally see the unanimity among all those
who aspire to serve our people,” Olivar stressed.
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