‘US very supportive of GMA administration’

The United States fully supports the administration of President Arroyo, a visiting US State Department official said yesterday.

Christopher Hill, the new US assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, said his government is "obviously very supportive" of Mrs. Arroyo and her administration.

Hill, who arrived Monday afternoon for an overnight stay, paid a courtesy call on Mrs. Arroyo, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and defense officials led by Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr.

"I had very good briefings on many of the challenges that are currently faced here," he said before boarding a flight for Thailand at Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday.

"We were able to have a discussion about these issues (travel advisories), but I want to emphasize the fact that I was really here on a listen and learn mission, and I’ll be beginning my duties in Washington in April.

"So for me, it was an opportunity to hear from the Filipino government what the problems are, how they see the problems, and how they see the challenges that they face in light also (of) these recent travel advisories," Hill said.

He said the Philippines was the first country he had visited after being named to his new post in Washington.

"This is not (my) last trip to the Philippines," he said.

"It’s really been a great pleasure to come here and to see, really, the strength of this relationship, the strength of this alliance.

"I was very pleased to have this opportunity to meet with the political leadership here."

On the other hand, the US Embassy said in a statement yesterday Hill had "no specific agenda" in coming here, although the Philippines was not part of his itinerary.

Karen Kelley, US Embassy spokeswoman, said Hill took the opportunity to meet Mrs. Arroyo and other top Filipino officials.

"(Hill) has just been designated to replace James Kelley as assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, so I think he was here to listen and learn," she told reporters at the Bulong Pulungan at the Westin Philippine Plaza in Pasay City yesterday.

"That is probably an accurate statement, and it reflects the reality of the situation. As assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, his scope is much wider and broader, and a wonderful opportunity for him to come to the Philippines and to hear from officials here, including the President."

Kelley also said the exclusion of the Philippines from the list of countries to be visited by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in her Asian tour should not be seen as a sign of a "deteriorating relationship" between the Philippines and the US.

"There are a lot of demands on the State Secretary’s schedule, and this particular visit had a specific itinerary," she said. "I do not think anything should be read that way."

Meanwhile, Hill, who was US ambassador to Seoul, South Korea, said the nuclear disarmament of North Korea remains the priority of the US government. "I think right now, the US is very much committed to the six-party process," he said.

"We feel this is the best way to address the problem posed by the nuclear problem in North Korea. The trouble is we can’t be negotiating with an empty chair so we have to encourage — all of us have to encourage — getting the North Korean staff to the table.

"In particular, China, which is hosting these talks I think has a special interest in making sure that all the participants come to the table."

Hill said the US is prepared to hold a "very serious and very dedicated negotiation" to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons.

"This is something that is important to us," he said.

"But it’s also important to the other parties in the six-party process. And I would argue it’s important to all countries in the region that we arrive at a settlement whereby North Korea does away with all its weapons programs," he said.

"The US has signaled on many occasions that we are prepared to have a very serious dialogue, serious negotiation to address all the problems that we face right now.

"We’re certainly prepared to hear what the North Koreans have to say."

It’s important for North Korea to come to the negotiating table so the problem could be resolved and their concerns can be acted on, he added. Hill also served as US Ambassador to Warsaw, Poland. – Rainier Allan Ronda, Pia Lee-Brago