Posted on 08/03/2002 2:11:55 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
MANILA, Philippines, Aug 03, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Stressing the need for multinational cooperation to fight terrorism, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Saturday he was pleased with the progress he has seen in Southeast Asia.
Powell spoke at a news conference at the end of an eight-day, eight-nation tour of the region where Washington fears Muslim extremism could fester and provide al-Qaida with an alternative base after being driven out of Afghanistan.
"In order to get these terrorists, not only al-Qaida, but other terrorists such as Abu Sayyaf, we have to work with our friends and allies, we have to connect our intelligence systems, connect our law enforcement systems, look at the financial transactions that these terrorist groups use to sustain themselves," he said.
"In that regard, I am very pleased with what we have been able to do with nations around world, but especially here in Southeast Asia."
He said the United States is providing the Philippines with an extra dlrs 55 million in aid for the fight against domestic terrorism, in addition to dlrs 100 million already allocated to fight poverty in the former U.S. colony.
Much of that is aimed at encouraging development in the southern Mindanao region, site of a decades-long Muslim separatist movement that gave birth to the brutal Abu Sayyaf group that has been linked to al-Qaida.
A six-month counterterrorism exercise involving 1,200 American troops wrapped up in that area Wednesday. Another series of training exercises is to start in October around the country and stretch for eight months.
After a working breakfast with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her Cabinet, Powell headed home to Washington, where he is due to meet with a delegation of Palestinians next week.
"Everybody is concerned about the violence in the Middle East," Powell said. "I think everywhere I have gone, it has been a subject of discussion. Everybody sees these terrible images on the television sets and innocent lives being lost.
"Everybody recognizes how difficult a challenge it is. But we can't give up. We can't walk away from that. We must continue to find a path forward."
The Philippine military was on alert as part of the tight security for Powell's 16-hour visit.
About 300 backers of two leftist groups scuffled with police as they tried to break through a steel barricade several hundred meters (yards) from the presidential palace gates before Powell arrived.
Police used shields to push back the demonstrators but allowed them to continue their rally. About 300 pro-American demonstrators were holding a separate rally in Manila's Bonifacio Park, about a kilometer (half-mile) away from the presidential palace, police said.
While the reception on the streets was mixed, it appeared that Powell got a warm welcome from Arroyo and other officials. Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople, who attended the news conference with Powell, described talks as "free and open discussions among old friends."
"Our talk with Secretary Powell confirms my own impressions of a reinvigorated relationship between our two countries, motivated by mutual interest and common desire to do our own part to bring peace, stability and progress to the world," Ople said.
He said Arroyo brought up several issues, including trade financing, development cooperation, tourism, World War II veterans and the global war on terrorism. She also offered thanks for the U.S. training exercise. A dispute with Arroyo over the training led to the resignation last month of Ople's predecessor.
Powell called his conversation with Arroyo "very successful."
"It is very fitting that Manila is the capstone of my visit to Southeast Asia because the alliance between the United States and the Philippines has been a bulwark of freedom and stability in the Asian-Pacific region," he said.
"Sixty years ago, our soldiers fought together in the battle of Bataan. Today we stand shoulder to shoulder again in the fight against terrorism."
By OLIVER TEVES Associated Press Writer
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