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Arroyo Highlights Urgency to Fight Terrorism
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Monday in Hong Kong that dealing with terrorism and international cooperation to lift the world economy from the brink of recession are two priorities in East Asia.
She put particular emphasis on the issue of battling terrorist activities in her keynote address presented at the opening of the three-day East Asia Economic Summit 2001.
The president said the Philippines' stand to join the U.S. fight against terrorism was not an emotional decision, but a strategic one and a moral choice.
"Evil is the source of terrorism. That is why the Philippines is in the fight against terrorism," she said.
Arroyo told the meeting that the Philippines has taken anti- terrorism measures including providing logistics assistance such as medicine and medical personnel for the U.S. military operation against terrorism and cracking down on money laundering related to terrorist activities.
The president called for regional cooperation in fight against terrorism, repeating the Philippines' initiative on the establishment of a transnational coalition against terrorism within the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
She suggested the three countries cooperate in sharing intelligence concerning terrorist activities, tightening border patrols, and participation of peacekeeping operation when it is necessary.
The 54-year-old president urged the world to tackle poverty to root out the cause of terrorism.
"Evil is the cause of terrorism and poverty is the raising ground of evil," she told the summit, which is dominated by topics related to regaining stability and growth in Asia.
Arroyo arrived here Sunday for a two-day visit to Hong Kong and the subsequent state visit to the People's Republic of China from October 29 to 31 to boost the bilateral relations between the Philippines and China.
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