August 2009

PHILIPPINES ASSUMES COUNTRY COORDINATORSHIP FOR ASEAN-US
DIALOGUE RELATIONS

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines announced that the
Philippines assumed the role of country coordinator for ASEAN-United States Dialogue
relations last July.

The DFA issued this clarification in view of reports that US President Barack
Obama designated the Philippines as coordinator between his country and the ASEAN.

In his remarks, President Obama said, “I am looking forward to my travels to
Southeast Asia, and the Philippines will be the coordinating country in the U.S.
relationship with ASEAN, the primary organization – strategic organization – for
Southeast Asian countries.”

His remarks were an acknowledgement of the Philippines’ current role as country
coordinator rather than as a designation, DFA Spokesperson Eduardo Malaya clarified.

The Philippines took over the three-year rotating responsibility from Singapore
during the 42nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) held in Phuket, Thailand on 22
July.

As country coordinator, the Philippines will be the conduit for the ASEAN Member
States in their interaction with the United States. The Philippines will also be in charge of
organizing meetings to be held either in the Philippines or in the United States.

The Philippines’ three-year action program as country coordinator will be
discussed during the special ASEAN-US Directors General Meeting and the Special
ASEAN-US Senior Officials Meetings to be held in Manila during the latter part of 2009.

Initial discussions are also underway for the first-ever ASEAN-US Summit under
Philippine coordinatorship.

The first meeting of the ASEAN-US Dialogue was held in Manila on 8 to 10
September 1977.

During the Post Ministerial Conference in Phuket with the United States, the US
acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia of 1976, a key
regional agreement on peaceful coexistence and mutual cooperation.