Australia urges Philippines to ratify defence accord

Manila: The Australian Government has urged the Philippines to ratify the status of forces agreement (Sofa) between the two countries amid concerns on resurgent terrorism in Mindanao.

Australian ambassador to Manila Rod Smith said the agreement has already been "completed, signed and ratified" by the Australian parliament in September last year and is only awaiting ratification by the Philippine senate.

He said Australia, as the Philippines' second largest military ally next to the United States, maintains a broad based defense cooperation programme and various activities between the defense forces of the Philippines and Australia .

Confidence

Asked whether he is confident that the Philippine Senate will ratify the agreement despite objections from militant groups that it would pave the way for basing rights and deployment of Australian troops in the country, ambassador Smith said: "Yes. We're confident that it will be ratified. We have a broad-based defense cooperation program with the Philippines, and we have a lot of very valuable work that we do with Australia and Philippines defense forces".

"What Sofa will do once it is entered into force will provide a more stable and predictable basis for dealing with some of the legal issues that involve this defense cooperation with the Philippines," said Smith in an interview during the Peace Forum on Mindanao last Thursday.

The Australian envoy meanwhile said while his government supports President Arroyo's anti-terrorism programmes including military actions, he stressed the peace initiatives through conduct of dialogue and understanding must not be neglected.

The Australian government has allocated a total of P4.4 billion (Dh363 million) as development assistance to conflict stricken areas in Mindanao.

Ambassador Smith said while his government supports counter terrorists measures of the Philippine government, "we also encourage the Philippine government to engage in dialogue with a view to building alliances and peace".

He said peace agreements must be pursued and enhanced with both Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

"Military action has its place in the right circumstances," he stressed. He added that his government supports the Philippine government's efforts to track down the perpetrators of the kidnapping of journalists in Sulu.

"The Abu Sayyaf group is recognised as a terrorist organisation and the Australian government is supportive of efforts to counter the terrorist threats."