13/07/2005 fr Business Times Page: 2
Headline: S'pore, US ink security, defence accord
Closer ties : Mr Lee (left) and Mr Bush at the Oval Office in the White House
yesterday after signing the wide-ranging Singapore-US Strategic Framework
Agreement
"....., the Strategic Framework Agreement
(SFA) is the first document to set out the principles of the US-Singapore
defence partnership. It allows for future cooperation in counter-terrorism,
counter-proliferation, joint military exercises and training, policy dialogues
and defence technology.
'Singapore sees eye-to-eye with the US on many strategic issues,' said Mr
Lee. 'The SFA is an expression of our shared strategic perspectives, and a
natural continuation of our excellent defence relationship.
'It provides a framework for us to enhance our cooperation and work towards
a safer and more stable region.'
Under the agreement, Singapore is recognised as what officials call a 'major
security cooperation partner'.
That signals that 'we're more than just friends, but we are not allies',
said defence minister Teo Chee Hean. 'What this means is that we're not
automatically obliged - as allies are - to come to each other's mutual defence.
But we do cooperate as major security cooperation partners in many areas.' In
1990 Singapore and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allowing
the US to use military facilities in Singapore. In 1998, the two parties agreed
to add Changi Naval Base to the list of facilities.
As the MOU is up for review - after 15 years - included in yesterday's SFA
there was a Protocol of Amendment to the 1990 MOU and a Defence Cooperation
Agreement.
A Singapore government statement said: 'The US and Singapore will set up an
annual Strategic Security Policy Dialogue to bring together senior defence
officials from both countries to exchange views on security and defence issues,
as well as bilateral cooperation.'
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Sg is neither a allies nor little brother(to our neighbour nor US)2.No country dared to argue so frivolously with US,except those in hostile positions with her.We will adopt a' strong back policy' in the future even with SFA.
Remember Michael Faye case.
http://www.corpun.com/sgju9403.htmClinton told reporters in Washington on Monday that the U.S. government has filed a strong protest with the Singapore authorities over the sentence. "[........] We believe that, based on the facts and the treatment of other cases, similar cases, that this punishment is extreme, and we hope very much that somehow it will be reconsidered," Clinton said.
His remarks were not reported in the controlled Singapore press Tuesday. But in a statement, the Singapore Foreign Ministry replied to Clinton, saying, "The Singapore judicial process cannot apply different standards to persons subjected to the same law." Without mentioning Clinton by name, the statement said the President's remarks about the unequal application of the law were "not correct.
In other countries,big or small,a private letter or visit from US Ambassdor
will settle the case 'out of Court',not to mention US President to intervent.
Stand up for Singapore,with a strong back.
