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.'
.................................
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.htm
Clinton 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.
