Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 18) — The United States has welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s statement that discussions are still ongoing on Washington’s request to temporarily house Afghan nationals who served the American government.
\”Well, we have not given ourselves a deadline. What we are talking about is that we’re trying to see what are the problems, what are the issues arising and in so doing we are trying to find ways to remedy those issues that we feel are something that we have to deal with. We have made some progress but there’s still some major obstacles to us being able to do it,\” Marcos said on Monday.
US State Counselor Derek Chollet who was in Manila for a three-day visit explained the intent of the request.
\”Let me start with what we’re trying to do here. We, the United States, stand by those Afghans who worked with us, in some cases for the better part of two decades side by side in Afghanistan,\” he said.
\”These were our closest partners on the ground working with US diplomats, working with US military officials, and all matters of US personnel. These were our brothers and sisters,\” he added.
While the Philippine government has yet to decide on the matter, the US official expressed gratitude to the Philippine government for discussing the request.
READ: US request to temporarily host Afghans in PH still under discussion DFA
\”We are grateful that we’re able to have a conversation about the government, the Philippines. We have other governments about how we are going to fulfill this commitment that we have those who worked by our side in Afghanistan,\” Chollet said.
“I’m not going to comment on the details of those diplomatic discussions that we are having. But these are ongoing and we appreciate the comments of the President today and that we are working closely with them and we’re trying to find a way to ensure that we, the United States, stand by this,” the official added.
