DATE=5/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-PHILIPPINES HOSTAGES (L)
NUMBER=2-262452
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Philippine Foreign Secretary has
accused the news media of worsening the hostage
crisis in the Philippines. VOA's Leta Hong
Fincher has this report from Beijing, where
Philippine President Joseph Estrada is meeting
with Chinese officials.
TEXT: Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo
Siazon says reporters interviewing hostage-takers
in the Philippines, are making it more difficult
for his government to find a solution to the
nearly four week old crisis.
///SIAZON ACT///
The greatest problem we're facing now is the
press people go into the jungle, make interviews
with the kidnappers and encourage them to prolong
the hostage-taking situation because it gives
them an international forum and access to
international media to of course amplify and
articulate their cause.
///END ACT///
European journalists visited the 21 mostly-
foreign hostages on the remote southern
Philippine Jolo Island Tuesday and said there as
an urgent need to release a German housewife,
Renate Wallert. She is suffering from
hypertension.
Mr. Siazon told reporters the top priority of his
government is to maintain the safety of the
hostages. He says government negotiators have
not yet rejected any of the demands of the
hostage-takers.
Philippine President Joseph Estrada has faced
criticism for leaving his country to visit China,
in the middle of the hostage crisis. But Mr.
Estrada defended his decision.
///ESTRADA ACT///
Despite some pressing domestic concerns in my
country, I decided to push ahead with this visit
because I personally feel it is very important
now and in the best long-term interest of the
Philippines to nurture and strengthen bilateral
ties with China.
///END ACT///
Mr. Estrada said he and Chinese President Jiang
Zemin have agreed to find a peaceful solution a
dispute over islands in the South China Sea
claimed by both nations. Mr. Estrada says the
territorial dispute is the only difficult
question between the two countries. He told
reporters both sides will now begin working on
development of a regional code of conduct to help
diffuse tensions in the area. (SIGNED)
NEB/LHF/FC
17-May-2000 05:09 AM EDT (17-May-2000 0909 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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