Obama sympathizes with victims of typhoon in RP

CHICAGO, Illinois - Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee in the 2008 US presidential polls, is offering his condolences to the victims of typhoon "Frank" (Fengshen), which battered the Philippines over the weekend. In a statement on Wednesday, Obama said that through President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, he was expressing his "sympathies to the victims...of typhoon Fengshen." In the same statement, Obama urged the "US government to provide emergency support to alleviate the suffering caused by the catastrophic natural disaster." In a separate letter, Obama apologized to President Arroyo as he would be unable to meet her in Washington. Mrs Arroyo is on her 10-day visit to the US. She left the Philippines last June 21. "I look forward to meeting with you in the future, and to working with you to advance the critical partnership between our nations. Please enjoy your visit this week," he said. He nevertheless assured Mrs Arroyo of his support to the ties between the US and the Philippines. He said "the bond between the United States and the Philippines is strong and enduring" because the latter had been an "important ally of the US from World War II and the Cold War, to the fight against terrorism and extremism. "The agenda for President Arroyo's visit is full. Together, we must address many challenges going forward, including the future of ASEAN, the continuing tragedy in Burma , implementation of recently-authorized Millennium Challenge Account assistance, and alleviation of the effects of the global food crisis on the Philippines," Obama said. "We should deal with these challenges with confidence in the foundation of our common interests and the shared values on which our relationship is based," he added. - GMANews.TV