US President Barack Obama heaped praises on the Philippines on Friday during his meeting with visiting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying the country “punches above its weight in the international arena.” “Although the Philippines is not the largest of countries, it - using a phrase from boxing - punches above its weight in the international arena,” Obama said during a joint press conference with Arroyo in Washington D.C. The boxing metaphor appeared to be an allusion to the exploits of Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, the six-time champion and best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. In the press conference, which was punctuated by laughter from the invited guests and the media, Obama called the Philippines a “strong voice” in Asia in dealing with issues ranging from the human rights violations that have for too long existed in Burma to the problems that we're seeing with respect to nuclear proliferation in North Korea. In recognition of the Philippines' leading role in the war on terror and other pressing global issues, Obama tapped Manila to serve as the “country coordinator” between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ASEAN, founded in 1967, includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Obama also took note of Arroyo's accomplishments in bringing peace and stability in southern Philippines. “I am very pleased that President Arroyo has made such good progress on dealing with counterterrorism issues,” Obama said. “She has initiated a peace process in Mindanao that we think is has the potential to bring peace and stability to a part of the Philippines that has been wracked by unrest for too long.” The US president also announced that he would be visiting the Philippines and other countries in the Southeast Asia. “I am looking forward to my travels to Southeast Asia, and the Philippines will be the coordinating country in the US relationship with ASEAN, the primary organization, strategic organization for Southeast Asian countries,” he said. For her part, Arroyo affirmed the Philippines' strong ties to the United States. “Internationally, we stand foursquare behind the United States on the position that it has taken with regard to Burma and with regard to North Korea's nuclear adventurism,” Arroyo said during the 13-minute press briefing. She said that the Philippines and the US were united in supporting the release of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Both countries have also condemned recent nuclear tests by North Korea, Arroyo said. She also said the US would continue supporting the Philippines “in intelligence-sharing and other forms of cooperation against counter-terrorism.” “We discussed peace and security issues, we discussed how to strengthen regional cooperation on anti-terrorism. We discussed how to advance the peace process in Mindanao,” Arroyo said. Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio said the meeting between Arroyo and Obama surpassed all expectations and was a milestone in the relationship between the two countries. “This is a very great achievement not only for the president but for the entire country,” Claudio said. He said that Arroyo's critics were proven wrong when they predicted that Obama would reprimand Arroyo during their meeting. However, the militant Bayan group said the Obama-Arroyo talks were merely a reaffirmation of an existing “unequal ties.” The US-given position of “country coordinator” only glorified an already embarrassing status for the Philippines, Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr. said in a statement. “The term ‘coordinating country' for US relationship with the ASEAN makes the Philippines America's glorified errand boy in the region. We're considered the US surrogate in Southeast Asia,” Reyes said. “That is not a very flattering designation. It speaks of how the US still considers the Philippines its colonial outpost in Asia. The US expects us to parrot its position within the ASEAN,” he added.
