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RP-South Korea Cooperation; defense cooperation, agreements, update
Topic Started: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:27 pm (132 Views)
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PHL-SoKor to ink new mutual defense agreement

By KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA NewsOctober 14, 2013 5:49pm

The Philippines and South Korea will be signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on several defense issues, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez announced on Monday.

"[President Benigno Aquino III and Korean President Park Geun-hye] will...witness the signing of an MOU between the defense ministries of the Philippines and Korea concerning cooperation in the field of defense," Hernandez said during a press conference in Malacañang.

He said the signing of the MOU will be part of Aquino's state visit to South Korea later this week.

Hernandez said the MOU "covers a wide range of cooperation from exchange of visits by military personnel and experts to humanitarian assistance and international peacekeeping activities."

"This is a very general MOU and this would be a basis for detailed agreements or activities later on once said both countries decide to undertake these activities," he said.

Aside from this, said Hernandez, there are also talks about South Korea helping the Philippines in acquiring "military material" such as ships, helicopters, and rubber boats.

"I’m not sure where it is now but the procedure is ongoing and we believe that Korea could help us in the upgrading of our forces," he said.

The DFA official quickly noted, however, that this agreement is different from the country's Visiting Forces Agreement with the US.

"This is in furtherance of our defense cooperation and this will actually be something that would help each other in making sure that we have complete activities as far as defense cooperation is concerned," he said.

Aside from the signing of the MOU, the DFA official said the two heads of state will also "discuss bilateral issues such as political dialogue, defense cooperation, trade and investments relations, official development assistance, consular and labor cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, among others. Regional issues will also be discussed."

Aquino is also expected to meet with the Korean business community and the Filipino community in South Korea. There are around 42,000 Filipinos in South Korea, said Hernandez. — BM, GMA News

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/330856/news/nation/phl-sokor-to-ink-new-mutual-defense-agreement
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
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Photo: Malacanang Photo Bureau

S. Korea gives jet, backs PH approach in sea row

By Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 10/17/2013 6:51 PM | Updated as of 10/17/2013 10:14 PM
SEOUL - President Aquino and South Korean President Park Geun-hye discussed the current situation in the West Philippine Sea during their summit talks at the Blue House.

Aquino thanked South Korea for supporting the country’s position in taking a rules-based approach in resolving conflicting territorial claims with China.

“We do not want to pick up a fight with anybody but we will do what is needed to protect our sovereignty. As we respect other nations’ rights, we expect them to respect ours,” Aquino was quoted by Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma as saying.

Aquino thanked Park for the imminent transfer to the Philippines of one FA-50 combat jet.

Posted Image
photo: FA50 jet / credit to owner

In addition, the Philippines will also be acquiring from South Korea additional aircraft, military vessels and equipment, and command-and-control equipment as part of the AFP modernization program.

Aquino said the newly signed memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation could expand and strengthen “the long-standing partnership between the two countries.”

President Park, meantime, acknowledged the Philippines’ and ASEAN’s support in persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

TRADE

Both sides committed to enhance bilateral trade with Korea promising to complete the accreditation process that will pave the way for Philippine chicken exports.

Aquino hoped Korea will be able to facilitate the entry of additional Philippine fruits into the Korean market.

Park requested an easing of restrictions to foreign direct investments from her country, “including those on market access, appointment of senior corporate officials, and renewal of business licenses and permits,” according to Coloma.

“President Aquino pledged that the Philippine government will do what is needed to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks,” Coloma said.

SAFETY OF KOREANS

Aquino committed to protect and ensure the safety of Korean citizens in the Philippines numbering around 100,000, but noted that “it is difficult to prosecute” cases involving Koreans “if the perpetrators of crimes against Koreans are their fellow nationals.”

A Korean consulate will be opened in Cebu that will serve the needs of Korean nationals there, said Aquino.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/10/17/13/s-korea-gives-jet-backs-ph-approach-sea-row


More photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.639753206068946.1073741930.140660295978242&type=3
Edited by Flipzi, Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:12 am.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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