President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last night thanked Indonesia’s cooperation in the fight against terrorism, saying that both the Philippines and Indonesia are determined to eradicate poverty that has become the recruiting ground for terrorists.

"I thank Indonesia for your cooperation, working together with us in our joint fight against terrorism. We are both determined to rid terrorism from our shores as we are both determined to eradicate the poverty that has become the (recruiting) ground for terrorism," the President said.

In her message during the formal toast for visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Malacaņang, the President said intelligence sharing and cooperation between the Philippines and Indonesia have paid off by tracking down and arresting "those responsible for high profile terroristic and heinous acts."

"We cannot ignore the possibility of renewed attacks including those that could be planned from terrorist cells, whether these cells are in either of our two countries or in other countries. That is why I value our intelligence sharing and cooperation, and our cooperative efforts are paying off in our two countries in the region and in the world," the President said.

The President also thanked Indonesia’s role in the signing of the 1996 peace agreement that ended more than two decades of conflict with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Philippines’ bid for observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

As friends and neighbors, the President said the Philippines and Indonesia have stood by each other’s side in times of difficulty.

Indonesia sent relief and medical supplies following the calamities that hit the Philippines in the latter part of 2004, while the Philippines later sent medical teams when tsunamis hit Aceh and Miangas Island in Indonesia in December last year.

President Arroyo said President Yudhoyono’s visit reaffirmed close ties and the two countries’ resolve to enhance relations "to enable both of our countries to achieve the goals of peace and development."

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Visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last night commended and thanked the Philippine government for the release of two Indonesian nationals who were kidnapped in Mindanao last March 30.

"We commend your success in securing the release of two of the Indonesian hostages recently," President Yudyohono said during the Malacanang dinner tendered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Indonesian leader also expressed hope that the remaining hostage would be safely returned to his family soon.

President Yudhoyono also expressed to President Arroyo his appreciation for the amendment of Philippine administrative rules on the issuance of alien certificates of registration (ACRs) to Indonesian nationals born in the Philippines.

The amended administrative rules have facilitated the release of ACRs to Indonesians in Southern Philippines beginning January 2005.

The two leaders also pledged to work closely to implement three options on the status of undocumented Indonesian nationals in Mindanao namely, repatriation, legalization of their stay, and integration into local society.

The two leaders also agreed to ensure maritime security and strengthen cooperation in combating transnational crimes, particularly in the areas of terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, arms smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, narcotics, and outbreaks of diseases.

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The Philippines and the Republic of Gambia signed today three major agreements reaffirming the two countries’ strong bilateral relations.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and visiting President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh of the Republic of Gambia witnessed the signing ceremony at Malacanang’s Reception Hall right after their bilateral meeting.

The first is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the establishment of a bilateral consultative committee between the Department of State for Foreign Affairs of Gambia and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.

Musa G. Bala Gaye, secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Gambia, and acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Sonia Cataumber Brady signed the MOU for the Philippine government.

Under the MOU, a consultative committee will be created to discuss issues concerning the bilateral relations between the two countries on regional and global issues of common interest to them.

The accord also substantiates the commitment of the two countries to the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership signed by Asian-African Leaders in Jakarta, Indonesia last April.

The second document is a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

The first private sector agreement between the two countries, the MOA seeks to deepen and expand the economic cooperation and bilateral trade, and maximize the complementation of each other’s economies.

Crisanto S. Frianeza, PCCI secretary general, and Mam Cherno Jallow, GCCI executive secretary, signed the MOA in front of the two leaders.

Another MOU is between the SK General Enterprises Ltd. of Gambia and Century Properties Inc., a developer/contractor of horizontal and vertical projects, and Concorde International Services, a recruitment company.

The SK General Enterprises of Gambia will contract Century Properties for the project management and procurement of construction materials and supplies for infrastructure projects to be undertaken in Gambia while the two companies will contract Concorde International Services for the recruitment of Filipino construction manpower services.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today underscored the need for the Philippines and the Republic of Gambia to help and cooperate with each other in improving the lives of their people.

The President issued the statement in her speech before the state lunch in honor of Gambia President Jammeh at Malacanang’s Aguinaldo State Dining Room.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita were among those present during the state lunch.

"Your visit is a reaffirmation of our commitment to a more active engagements between two continents in support of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership. It is my pleasure to welcome the President of Gambia as the first African president to visit the Philippines during my presidency," the President said.

In her speech, the President said the visit of the Gambian Chief Executive will "promote goodwill between Asia the fast increasing number of independent nations in Africa and give a chance to the Filipino people to understand the progress and development of former colonies subjected to the rule of different colonial powers."

Before the state lunch, the two Presidents held a brief meeting at the Music Room before proceeding to the Music Conference Room for their bilateral meeting.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of the three major agreements on the promotion of bilateral and economic relations of the two countries.

During their meeting, President Jammeh informed President Macapagal-Arroyo of the role the Philippines had played in the Gambia’s development since its independence in 1965.

President Jammeh said that in recognition of the role of the Philippines in Gambia’s development, Gambia named one of its main exports – peanut --as Philippine pink and "brooks" after a Filipino professor named Brooks, who brought the Philippine pink peanuts to Gambia.

To further strengthen the friendship of the two countries, President Jammeh told the President that he will help the Philippine bid for a permanent observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

Gambia is among the influential members of the OIC.

"Your support is valuable in our efforts to forge lasting peace with our Muslim brothers in Southern Philippines. With your support the Philippines looks forward to a future of being one among you in the OIC. We are committed to promoting understanding among various states and civilizations in our country and in the world," the President said.

The President also acknowledged the initiative of Gambia to help the country become energy independent.

"His Excellency gave me a wonderful piece of good news that Gambia has just discovered oil. And because the Philippines helped out Gambia in its early struggle as a new nation, Gambia will help us this time by giving a block for the oil exploration of our Philippine oil exploration company," she added.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo accorded full arrival honors to visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Malacaņang Palace grounds this afternoon.

The Indonesia President is on a three-day official visit in the Philippines with his First Lady, Madame Ani Bambang Yudhoyono

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and members of the Cabinet led by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, joined the President in welcoming the visiting Indonesian leader and his party.

The national anthems of both countries were played by the Presidential Security Guard (PSG) Band as a 21-gun salute boomed from Malacanang Park across the Pasig River.

Following the arrival honors and review of the Presidential Honor Guards, the two Presidents took the ceremonial walk to the Palace where the Indonesian head of state signed the official Malacanang guest book.

Presidents Arroyo and Yudhoyono held a closed-door meeting on their cooperative campaign against terrorism and further improving the friendly relations of their two countries.

Tonight, President Arroyo will host an official dinner for the visiting Indonesian head of state.

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The Presidents of Indonesia and Gambia are arriving in the Philippines within two hours of each other tomorrow for talks with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on various bilateral issues.

Scheduled to arrive at 4 p.m. is Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudyohono, a close ally of President Arroyo’s in the fight against international terrorism, and a fellow advocate of strong economic cooperation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

At 6 p.m. President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh of the Republic of Gambia

will arrive at Villamor Air Base for a three-day state visit to the country. The Gambian president is the first African head of state to visit the Philippine during the term of President Arroyo.

Malacanang said the President will receive the visiting heads of state separately on Tuesday (June 21) in Malacanang.

President Jammeh is expected to arrive at 10 a.m. in Malacaņang, where he will be accorded arrival honors.

President Jammeh and President Arroyo will witness the signing of an RP – Gambia Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the establishment of a consultative mechanism for bilateral cooperation.

Part of the official activities of the visiting Gambian president will be the Meeting of Leaders at the Music Room of Malacaņang. This will be followed by an expanded bilateral meeting at the Ramos Music Conference Room.

The visit here of the Gambian head of state is expected to pave the way for stronger Asian-African collaboration in various fields as envisioned in the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP), which was signed by Asian and African leaders last April in Jakarta.

It was during their one-on-one meeting on the sideline of the Asian-African Conference in Jakarta that President Arroyo invited her Gambian counterpart to visit Manila.

The two countries are also working for the full implementation of two existing accords: the Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, and the Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine.

At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, President Arroyo will welcome to Malacaņang Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudyohono, who is arriving for a three-day (June 20 – 22) official visit.

The two leaders will then meet at the Music Room. From there, they will proceed to the Ramos Music Conference Room for an expanded bilateral meeting.

President Arroyo will tender an official dinner in honor of the visiting Indonesian leader at the Rizal Hall of Malacaņang.

The Indonesia President will be accompanied by Mrs. Ani Bambang Yudyohono, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda, Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangetsu and other officials.

President Yudyohono’s trip is part of his introductory visits to Indonesia’s neighbors in the region after he assumed office in October 2004.

The two presidents are expected to tackle bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual concern with emphasis on expanding economic relations, counter-terrorism, maritime cooperation and the revitalization of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

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President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh of the Republic of Gambia in South Africa will visit the Philippines on June 20-23, 2005.

The visit will be the first by an African head of state during the tenure of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and is expected to help strengthen Asian-African collaboration in various fields as envisioned in the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) signed by Asian and African Leaders last April in Jakarta.

Presidents Arroyo and Jammeh both attended the Jakarta summit and signed the NAASP accord.

It was also in Jakarta where the Philippine lady President invited the African leader to visit Manila during their one-on-one meeting on the side of the Asian-African Conference.

Gambia and the Philippines are expected to sign a memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a Bilateral Consultative Committee (BCC) which shall form the basis of a general framework for cooperation between the two countries.

The establishment of the RP-Gambia BCC would enable the two countries to hold direct consultations on bilateral, regional and global issues of common concern.

The two countries are also working for the entry into force of two agreements signed previously -- the Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation and the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Health and Medicine.

The Philippines has offered the use of its educational, training and research facilities, especially in agriculture, fisheries, education, medicine, and human resource development for future cooperation projects that may be designed based on the signed agreements.

The two countries will also take advantage of the visit to explore ways to improve relations and to create stronger ties between their business and private sectors.

The Philippines is likewise expected to seize the opportunity to solicit the support of Gambia, a member of the OIC Eminent Persons’ Group, for the country’s bid to become an observer at the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

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Bilateral relations between the Philippines and Indonesia will be given a boost when Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visits Manila from June 20 to 21.

Since 1949, the Philippines-Indonesia relations have expanded in a wide range of areas of cooperation such as defense and security, consular matters, trade and investments, maritime concerns, transportation and communications, energy, and tourism.

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