RP Laos sign 5 agreements From "Philippines News Agency (by way of Wayne Johns )" VIENTIANE, Laos, Oct. 17 (PNA) - - Three more agreements were signed today between the Philippine and Laos, bringing to five bilateral accords forged between the two countries. President Ramos and Lao Prime Minister Khamtay Siphandone hailed the signing of the agreements which will bring closer relations between the two nations. The signing took place after the two leaders'bilateral meeting at the Ho Kham Presidential Palace. President Ramos said the newly-signed agreements have paved the way for the revival of "Operation Brotherhood"a program initiated by the Philippine government in the 1950s up to late 1970s to help the people of Laos through cooperation in medical care, public health, education and community development. "Our relations with Laos are deeply rooted in our unique experience of fraternity and cooperation through "Operation Brotherhood in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. With the signing of the bilateral agreements, we have in a way rekindled that spirit of brotherhood,"the President explained. The first to be signed was an Agreement to Fight Illicit Drug Trafficking of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic substances which among others, calls for exchanges of information and setting of mechanism for closer cooperation between the two governments to fight drug trafficking. The President and the Prime Minister further said the newly-signed bilateral agreements have elevated the Philippine-Laos bilateral relations to a higher level which will benefit not only the two countries but the rest of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Foreign Affairs Minister Domingo Siazon and his counterpart signed the anti-drug trafficking agreement. Health Secretary Carmencita Reodica and Lao Minister of Health Ponmek Daraloy signed the agreement on Cooperation in Public Health where they vowed to "cooperate as possible in order to improve or ensure access by the people especially women and children to adequate public health services, with particular emphasis on the area of primary health care." Through the agreement, the two governments will undertake cooperation activities in the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of communicable and non- comunicable public health diseases. Both governments have also agreed to undertake programs aimed at upgrading the medical staff and facilities, including: - The sending of doctors, experts, and health professionals at the request of the other party under terms to be stipulated by specific agreements or contracts. - Sending of experts and health professionals at the request of the other party for the participation in study courses in the public health institutes of the said party. - Promotion of exchanges of doctors, experts, and health professionals for further studies in particular areas; and - Enlargement of the pool of health workers and adoption of alternative mechanisms, preferably community-based to meet the growing demand for health. As a start-off, Secretary Reodica and Minister Daraloy signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Malaria Control Program Technical Collaboration to eradicate that particular disease which remains a constant and undiminishing threat to developing countries The two parties agreed to: - Develop a formal mechanism by which both parties will participate in the formulation of technical halth collaboration for Malaria Control Program: - provide technical assistance in the actual implementation and training for human resource development, especially in the areas of malaria diagnosis, malaria epidemiology, malaria entomoly, malaria control field operations, and chemoteraphy and drug resistance. Education Secretary Ricardo Gloria and counterpart Phimmansone Leuangkhamm signed the Laos-Philippine Agreement on Cultural Cooperation which encompasses cultural exchanges and cooperation in education for better mutual understanding between Filipinos and Lao. The two governments shalll encourage and facilitate the following: - the reciprocal visits of professors and experts for delivering lectures, study tours, and conducting special courses; - reciprocal visits of representatives of educational, literary, artistic, scientific, technical, sports and journalist associations and organizations, and participation in congress, conferences, symposia, and seminars; and - reciprocal facilities in regard to visits by archeologists of one country to the other to enable them to gain experience of excavation as well as preservation and display of archeological finds and for training purposes, and also in regard to the exchange of specimen. The last agreement was between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs represented by Secretary Domingo Siazon and Minister Somsavath Lengsavath which allowed holders of official and diplomatic passports visa-free entry into each other's territories. FVR back from a successful 5-day foreign trip cites importance of regional solidarity From Philippines News Agency (by way of Wayne Johns )" MANILA, Oct. 18 (PNA) - President Fidel V. Ramos today underscored the need for regional solidarity and cooperation if the Philippines hopes to deal effectively with its national concerns whether they pertain to trade, currency, security or the drug problem. "The principle of solidarity and cooperation underpinned the entire purpose of our mission," the President said upon his arrival at the Subic Bay International Airport from a five-day trip to Hong Kong, Myanmar and Laos. The President`s plane, a Philippine Airlines Boeing 737, touched down at exactly 1:00 p.m. He was warmly greeted by members of his Cabinet led by Executive Secretary Ruben Torres, congressional leaders headed by Speaker Jose de Venecia, presidentiables Senators Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Heherson Alvarez, members of the diplomatic corps and thousands of residents and students from Olongapo City and nearby towns in Zambales, Bataan and Pangasinan. The President said his brief state visits to Myanmar and Laos, which became new members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN), gained added value after the Philippines assumed last July the chairmanship of ASEAN for the current year. The visits to those two countries, according to the President, showed that we have given primacy to Southeast Asia in our foreign relations. "As close neighbors, they are of strategic importance for our security, economic progress and national well- being," the President said. With these visits, he said, he has completed his presidential mission to all the ten countries of Southeast Asia, adding that more and more, the destiny of the Philippines lies in its relations with its neighbors in the region. The President said his brief stop in Hong Kong gave him an important opportunity to consolidate investor confidence for Southeast Asia`s economic future in the face of the currency crisis affecting the region. In Hong Kong, the President was the keynote speaker at the sixth East Asian Economic Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF) attended by some 1,000 of the world`s leading finance and business managers. He said the message that he imparted to the world`s leaders was simple: that the Philippines has the proven capacity, the policy environment, the skilled managers, the open democratic system, and the political will to overcome the current financial uncertainties in East Asia "and of emerging from this situation even stronger than before. The President said he spelled out two basic reasons for his confidence: the fundamental strength of the Philippine economy and the measures taken by the government to respond effectively to recent developments in the region. In fact, the President said, the Philippines has in many ways turned around to become a donor of development assistance instead of just being a beneficiary or recipient from more affluent countries. The President said in Laos, a Philippine company and a Lao group agreed to form a joint venture to manufacture textiles for the Laotian market, with an initial capital of US$30 million coming from Filipino sources. Like in his previous foreign trips, the President also took time to meet and address the Filipino communities in Hong Kong, Yangon and Vientiane. In Hong Kong, he got the assurance from Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa of continued protection for some 150,000 Filipino workers in the former British colony. The President also lauded the good reputation and competence of Filipino workers in Myanmar and Laos. Although there are only few Filipinos in these two countries, they are mostly professionals and skilled workers. After delivering his arrival speech, the President had an informal interaction with local officials in Olongapo City led by Chairman Richard Gordon of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). FVR pays tribute to Filipino workers in Laos From Philippines News Agency (by way of Wayne Johns )" VIENTIANE, Laos, Oct. 18 (PNA) -- President Fidel V. Ramos today lauded the Filipino overseas workers here for their competence, dedication and care which, he said, "lasted through the years." "I have received good reports of the work being done by Filipinos in Laos today. I hope and trust that all of you will maintain and enhance the tradition and service and humanitarianism that Filipino have gained for themselves in this country, " the Chief Executive said before the Filipino community leaders here. There are only about 150 Filipino in Laos but they are mostly professionals and skilled workers. The President said he came to visit Laos to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The Chief Executive said he is convinced that Philippine participation in the efforts of Laos to hasten its development and to close the economic gap between Laos and its neighbors will be "to our mutual benefit." He noted that the presence in Laos of professional and highly skilled Filipinos - brought here mainly by foreign investors - is a good indication of the potential benefit that our people can derive from an enduring partnership with Laos." The President told the OFWs present that the Ramos administration appreciates their important role and has noted that the Lao people appreciate the role that Filipinos are playing in the development of their country. "Your are not only contributing to the development of Laos, but you are also establishing bonds of friendship between our people," the President said. The President underscored the contribution of the OFWs in bringing about this turnaround in the country's economic fortunes which, he said, should be acknowledged and recognized. "What you - our overseas workers -- have done and continue to do is among the important reasons why we can be optimistic about the sustainability of our economic growth," the President said. The presence of Filipino professionals in Laos, according to the President, especially those on short-term contract, those who are working managers and engineers in development projects and those working in private companies in Laos - "throws a new light on why a growing number of our people work abroad." "This trade is services, which, in recent years, has outsripped trade in goods, is a major growth area where we Filipinos can compete successfully," the President said, adding that it is a "competitive advantage that the Philippine has over many countries - for we have an abundance of professionals and highly-skilled people." During the gathering, held at the residence of the Philippine Ambassador Jaime Yambao , a Filipino worker sang an original composition welcoming the President and the First Lady, Amelita M. Ramos, for their overnight visit to Laos. Composed of Francisco Laurel Rivera, a musician, the song has a lively tune, earning the instant appreciation of President Ramos who easily warmed up to his audience. Part of the song goes: "Salamat, salamat FVR, nang maging Pangulo, bayan ay sumulong, naging kilala ng mundo. "Mabuhay, Mabuhay, FVR, dulot ng iyong nagagawa, bukas ay masaya." "Mabuhay, mabuhay, FVR, bayan ay pumayapa." Rivera, a musical artist, who hails from Cebu, arrived in Vientiane in May this year, With a finished contract, Rivera now works at the Philippines embassy. Visit renew bond of friendship between Laos and RP says FVR From Philippines News Agency (by way of Wayne Johns )" VIETIANE, Laos, Oct. 18 (PNA) - - President Fidel V. Ramos Friday night said the renewal of bonds between the Philippines an Lao People's Democratic Republic and their partnership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as his visit here should become the new starting point for raising the relations between the two countries and making it more enduring "for the benefit of our peoples and for the security, stability and well-being of our region," Beyond our partnership in ASEAN, Laos and the Philippines have found each other again,' the Chief Executive said in his speech at a state banquet tendered in his honor by Laotian President Nouhak Phoumsavanh at the National Assembly Building here. The President said that more than 40 years ago, the people of Laos and the Philippines collaborated closely in healing the sick, improving public health, educating children, upgrading human skills, and raising the people's standard of life. The President said through the cooperative effort called "Operation Brotherhood (OB), Lao people and Filipino not only learned many useful skills or learned about each other but also formed lasting bonds of friendship. The President noted that the flows of history interrupted this process for two decades, and "our people drifted apart, although many personal ties have survived and memories remained." Today, he added, the forces of development have brought the Philippines and Laos together. The President pointed out that the Philippines cooperated closely with Laos in order to enhance its capacity to grasp the opportunities that membership in ASEAN offers and to fulfill the obligations that membership entails. "Beyond our partnership in ASEAN, Laos and the Philippines have found each other again. We have established resident embassies in each other's capital and our ambassadors are in place," the President said. The Filipino business leaders, the President said, are eager to explore, with Laotian officials and businessmen, opportunities for the expanded business, trade and investments between the two countries. "We can resume our cooperation in health and education and community developement. We can chart new areas of collaboration in science and technology and in raising our peoples' capacity to live and work and prosper in the world of the 21st century," the President said. After his speech, the President offered a toast to the health of His Excellency President Phoumsavanh and to Prime Minister Khamtay Siphandone, and to the happiness and prosperity of the people of Laos and the Philippines. Laotian leader hopes Laos will attain RP-like development From Philippines News Agency (by way of Wayne Johns )" VIENTIANE, Laos, Oct. 18 (PNA) - - Laotian President Nouhak Phoumsavanh Saturday night expressed the hope that his country would soon attain the progress that has eluded his people and that Laos can be at pace with the rest of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In his remarks at the state banquet he hosted for visiting President Fidel V. Ramos at the National Assembly Building, President Phoumsavanh said Laos admires the Philippines for its unprecedented economic growth during the last five years. It is the Philippines' growth, he pointed out, that Laos wants to achieve for its "multi-ethnic" people, especially with the dawning of the 21st century. "We are very pleased with the achievements on national development of the Philippine (sic) people, especially under the leadership of Your Excellency when the Philippine national economy has undergone a rapid and sustainable rate of growth," the Laotian president said. "Those achievements have significantly contributed to the economic dynamism in Southeast Asia as well as in the Asia-Pacific region. The Lao government and people would like this opportunity to wish the friendly Philippine ( sic) people more and still greater success," he added. Phoumsavanh said Laos considers socio-economic development as the core task of his nation. He said their objective is to overcome poverty and backwardness as well as improve the living condition of its people and gradually bring about prosperity to the country. Just like the Philippines, he said, Laos has set out a basic policy to ensure stability and create a favorable environment for development by giving priority to human resource development. At the same time, the Laotian leader added his government has pursued a consistent open-door policy for international cooperation with all ASEAN member countries and other neighboring countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefits. Phoumsavanh told President Ramos that the five bilateral agreements signed yesterday reflect the goodwill of their two countries to consolidate bilateral cooperation as well as to promote their relations within the framework of ASEAN. "We consider that the signing of these agreements, beside opening up a new era of expansion of relations between the two countries, will contribute to promoting peace, friendship and cooperation for development in Southeast Asia and the world," he concluded. BKK Post / 19 October 1997 BORDER Arrests set to be dealt with by ministry Local talks have yet to free six officers By Bhanravee Tansubhapol and Teerawat Khumtita, in Bangkok and Chiang Rai The Foreign Ministry is set to intervene in the Thai-Lao diplomatic dispute over the arrest of six Thai immigration police officers if talks between Chiang Rai authorities and their Laotian counterparts fail, a ministry source said yesterday. The negotiation is expected to be held today or on Monday in Laos's Bokeo province to call for the release of six Thai officers who were arrested on October 7. The ministry did not want to intervene because it wanted the issue to be resolved at a local level through the Thai- Lao committee on keeping peace along the border, said the source. "We do not want to raise the issue at the national level. If local Thai and Lao authorities cannot tackle it, the ministry may order the Thai ambassador in Vientiane to talk with the Lao government or ask the envoy to return and clear the problem," he said. The problem became deadlocked because Laotian authorites wanted their Thai counterparts to release the three arrested Laotians or compensate their families in case of death while the Thai officials reaffirmed that only one Laotian crew member had been arrested, the official said. But, the Thai authorities turned down the request and made a similar demand by asking Laos to return the six Thai officers in exchange for the freedom of the jailed Laotian, added the officer. On October 7, a joint team of immigration police, anti- narcotics and Excise Department officials were keeping watch on Sob Kok pier in Chiang Saen district of Chiang Rai, following a tip-off that a large quantity of contraband would be smuggled from Laos to Chiang Saen. The Lao crew on board six vessels opened fire on Thai officers who tried to search their cargoes. Two boats were impounded with 2,800 crates of German beer worth 400,000 baht and a Laotian man was arrested. Four other boats then broke away and tried to escape back to Laos with six Thai officers still abroad. The arrested Thai officers sought cooperation from Laotian authorites to help arrest the Laotian crewmen, but the latter refused to give cooperation and instead arrested the Thai officers, according to a report from the Thai embassy in Vientiane. The six Laotian boats smuggled the contraband into Thai territory because the boats did not go to the customs pier to pay taxes, added the report received on Wednesday. Meanwhile, deputy Chiang Rai governor Riab Naradisorn crossed the border to Laos to meet Laotian authorities in Huay Sai district of Bokeo province, opposite Chiang Rai's Chiang Khong district. Speaking during the meeting, the deputy governor said Laotian authorities would invite representatives from both sides to negotiate on the matter and patch up their differences on Monday. Laos seized the four Laotian boats which fled to Ton Phueng district and imposed a fine of one million baht on charges of transporting contraband, added Mr Riab.