STO. TOMAS, Pangasinan, Philippines – Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has already been advising the government on how to boost the peace process in Mindanao, Malacañang said yesterday.
Speaking to reporters, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said this is the reason why the government does not need to extend a formal invitation for him to help revive the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“President Arroyo and Mr. Blair are friends, that’s how world leaders are, even before, they have been already exchanging notes on how to solve the secessionist movement (in Mindanao),” he said.
Remonde said it was not as if Malacañang was “desperately seeking” Blair on the matter.
“So even at that time, during their talks, Prime Minister Blair was already saying that if he is in a position to help, he will help,” he said.
Remonde said Blair’s visit to Manila this week was a good opportunity for him to reiterate the offer to Mrs. Arroyo when they met in Malacañang on Monday.
“Of course, we welcome whatever help he can extend in terms of advice and experience,” he said.
Meanwhile, Blair said on Monday he recognizes the “shift” of power from the West to the East when US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham-Clinton picked Asia for her first official trip abroad.
Generations of senior U.S. officials went to Britain for their first official trips as a legacy of the centrality of Europe.
Clinton’s inaugural trip last month signaled that Asia occupies a prominent place in the new US administration’s foreign policy and the commitment of President Barack Obama for closer economic and diplomatic relations with Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and China.
Clinton also met with President Arroyo in Washington before her trip to Asia.
“It’s an indication of strategic relations,” Blair told reporters.
“I personally saw this as one of the most important things when I talked about it with the new administration.
“And my view then and now is the American relationship with China is one major part.”
Blair also recognized China’s important participation in resolving issues on economy and climate change.
“And so it is good Secretary Clinton went there and if you look at the world economy, climate change, environment and the issue of scarcity of resources in the world, none of these can be dealt with without China’s response to the resolution,” he said.
“I’m a strong believer of a strong relation not just between America and China but I would say Europe and China, too. The European relationship with China is also important.
“And the power of the East is shifting fast and we in the West must understand it. As I was saying in my speech, there are great opportunities for countries like the Philippines.”
2 senators welcomeBlair’s help
Senators Francis Escudero and Francis Pangilinan welcomed yesterday proposals for Blair to help in the peace process in Mindanao.
“Let us not reject offers of help, Escudero said.
“But let us get a Filipino solution to a Filipino problem.”
Pangilinan said it was high time the government should try “new methods and approaches to make peace happen.”
“We need to think out of the box and if this offer to help, given his (Blair’s) experience in dealing with dissidents back home (in the United Kingdom), then maybe we should tap his experience,” he said. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Christina Mendez