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No go for Arroyo meeting with Obama - US envoy


MANILA, Philippines - After failing to meet with US President-elect Barack Obama last June, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will still not likely get her chance at a United Nations special session next week. US ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Ann Kenney disclosed this Thursday as she said Obama is not looking to meet with foreign leaders during the UN meet. "I think it's unlikely. At least what I know as of now (is that) President-elect Obama is not looking to meet with foreign leaders," Kenney said in an interview on dzBB radio. She said Obama is now busy assembling his Cabinet and going through a transition period before he formally assumes office on Jan. 20, 2009. Kenney also said that when she briefed President Arroyo on the results of the US elections Wednesday, she told her the US is not accepting any requests for meetings with Obama. "I told her (from) what we know as of now, they are not accepting any requests for meetings," she said. On Wednesday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that Mrs Arroyo would still try to meet Obama when she goes to the US on Nov. 12-13 to join world leaders in a special session of the United Nations General Assembly. "I'm sure that's a very important event. She's going there next week and I'm very sure that will be high in the agenda of President Arroyo," Ermita was quoted as saying. On Wednesday, Mrs Arroyo tried but failed to talk to Obama. It would have been the second conversation between the two leaders. The first time was during President Arroyo's state visit in the United States last June when Obama was still campaigning. Obama, then Illinois senator, turned down her request for a face-to-face talk because of his tight schedule. She later got to talk to Obama on June 26 when Obama called her up. - GMANews.TV
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