WASHINGTON, May 20 Kyodo The Unit...

WASHINGTON, May 20 Kyodo

The United States and the Philippines signed an array of agreements Tuesday to aid cooperation in science and technology, law enforcement, antiterrorism and other fields.

U Secretary of State Colin Powell and Philippine Foreign Secretary Blas Ople signed an agreement subordinate to which the U.S. will provide technical assistance and training to enhance Philippine law-enforcement capabilities, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a regular pres briefing.

Powell and Ople also signed a separate accord to raise exchanges of ideas, information and skills in the science and technology area, Boucher said.

The other agreements signed by dint of the two nations include a pact subordinate to which the U.S. will support Philippine efforts to decommission and reintegrate into society former combatants of the Moro National Liberation assurance he said.

The signing of the agreements came a day after the summit between U President George W Bush and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo where they pledg closer cooperation forward security and economic matters.

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