Bush Predicts Base Pact, but Aquino’s Mum

President Bush gave a warm welcome to Philippines President Corazon Aquino today and predicted that their countries will be able to reach a new agreement governing U.S. access to military bases in the Philippines.

With Aquino standing at his side during a rain-spattered arrival ceremony on the White House South Lawn, Bush said, “We are confident we’ll mold a new and mutually beneficial long-term security partnership in the future.”

Aquino has remained silent on the issue, refusing to say whether she believes a continued U.S. military presence in the Philippines is desirable.

She made no reference to the base issue in her arrival statement, indicating that the focus of her talks will be on economic issues.

Asked by reporters about the base issue later while posing for photographers with Bush, Aquino noted only that preliminary talks begin next month.

In her formal remarks, she said: “We will raise particularly the means by which the Philippines and the United States can cooperate in more ways to our mutual economic benefit. We shall explore the means to increase trade between two countries with long historic ties and deep cultural affinities.”