Obama welcomes PGMA, other world leaders at Nuclear Terrorism Summit
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WASHINGTON DC -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrived here today (Tuesday in Manila) in the tightly-
secured US capital to join 46 other world leaders in a historic summit intended to set up a common global front
against the dangers of nuclear terrorism.
The Philippine leader, aboard a Philippines Airlines special flight from Manila landed about 5:30 pm at the
military-run Andrews Airforce Base, a half-hour drive to the capital, and immediately proceeded to the Walter E.
Washington Convention Center where she was welcomed by US President Barack Obama.
The center is the venue of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit ( NSS), billed as the biggest gathering of world
leaders in the United States since the 1940s when nations met in New York to set up the United Nations.
Obama, the main convenor of the Summit, had set up a leaders’ arrival area at the Washington Center to
welcome the 46 world leaders who will meet Tuesday and Wednesday find a consensus on the US
sponsorship of plans to counter the possibility of nuclear and radiological materials illicitly finding their way into
the hands of terrorists.
Obama greeted the world leaders one after the other as they lined up to be acknowledged at the reception
beamed live by television all over the world. About a thousand media people watched the reception line from a
separate room with giant projectors.
President Arroyo’s turn at the welcome platform almost coincided with Russian President Dimitri Medvedev, with
whom Obama signed last week a new US-Russia Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) that gave more
significance to the NSS.
Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. disclosed to media that President Arroyo had conveyed to both Obama and
Medvedev her congratulations for the successful signing of the START agreement.
Icban and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo were among the Cabinet members with the President.
The President will be following a tight schedule during her two-day stay here.
At day two of the summit, she will attend a morning plenary session chaired by Obama on the issue “National
Action to Secure Nuclear Materials and Prevent Illicit Trafficking”.
This will be followed by a working lunch where Obama, again as chairman, will lead discussions on “The Role
of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Nuclear Security. Obama will then host a closing press
conference at about 4:30 p.m.
The Summit has for its goal a commonly agreed “communiqué” that will reflect the commitment of individual
nations to measures needed to secure and protect vulnerable nuclear materials from finding their way into
terrorist organizations or groups.
During her stay here, President Arroyo will meet US senators Richard Lugar, Daniel Inouye and Christopher
Bond at Capitol Hill.
Lugar will be conferred by President Arroyo with a Philippine government award at the Fairmont Hotel where the
Arroyo party is billeted.
Her meeting with Inouye and Bond will likely be a moment for her to express the appreciation of the Filipino
people for the efforts of the two US solons in helping upgrade US benefits for Filipino World War II veterans.
A separate meeting with several US congressmen have been slated at Capitol Hill.
In a more significant moment for her, the President on the same day will receive the Teddy Roosevelt
International Conservation Award from the conservationist group, International Conservation Caucus
Foundation (ICCF), for her effort in marine environmental conservation and advocacy in the Coral Triangle.
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PGMA offers condolences to Poland
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has offered her sincerest condolences to the Republic of Poland, following
the tragic death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash.
In a letter to Poland’s Acting President Bronislaw Komorowski dated April 11, President Arroyo said she was
“deeply shocked and saddened” by the untimely death of Kaczynski, who Arroyo hailed as a “major force in
modern Polish history”.
She also extended prayers and sympathies to the bereaved family of Kaczynski and expressed hope that this
tragedy will strengthen the spirit and unity of the people of Poland.
Another letter of condolences with same date was also given to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Copies of the following letter of condolences were given to Philippine media in Washington DC, U.S.A. by Press
Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr.:
April 11, 2010
Excellency Bronislaw Komorowski
Acting President
Republic of Poland
Excellency,
I am deeply shocked and saddened by the untimely deaths of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and
many other Polish officials and citizens yesterday in a plane crash in Smolensk, Russia,
It is doubly tragic that this happened as they were on their way to commemorate the martyrdom of Polish
soldiers during World War II.
On behalf of the Philippine Government and People, I would like to express our sincerest condolences to the
Polish Government and People over this tragedy. President Kaczynski was a major force in modern Polish
history, a leader in the Solidarity Movement that led to the overthrow of communism in Poland. His keen sense
of nationalism was known and respected all over the world.
I also extend our prayers and sympathies to his twin brother, former Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, and to
their whole family during this very difficult time.
I remain confident that this tragedy will serve to strengthen your people’s spirit and unity as your people and
nation work together to overcome this tragedy,
Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
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