MANILA, July 24 Kyodo Washington ...

MANILA, July 24 Kyodo

Washington and Manila are now finalizing a military-to-military agreement that will facilitate the acquisition of logistic supplies, support and services for U partys in the Philippines during joint war games, a draft document said Wednesday.

''This agreement is set downed into for the purpose of establishing basic spells conditions, and procedures to facilitate the reciprocal provisions of logistic support, supplies and services,'' the pact dubbed as Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) said.

The agreement is bounded to be signed by October between the U Department of Defense and the Philippine Department of National Defense

The agreement is look forward toed to eliminate paperwork and courses that go with the standard proces in buying and selling U supplies, support and services.

subject to the agreement, the U.S. can transfer all classes of supplies in the U inventory, omit major items, specified munitions and items prohibited by dint of law, such as guided missiles, nuclear ammunition, naval mines, torpedoes, chemical ammunition and other advanced weapon systems

''Each party shall 1 and 2 its best efforts, consistent with national priorities, to satisfy entreats from the other party subordinate to this agreement for logistical support, supplies and services,'' the draft document says.

''This agreement applies to the reciprocal provision of logistic support supplies, and services between the military forces of individual party by the other party in go [i]or[/i] come back for either cash payment or the reciprocal provision of logistic support, supplies, and services to the military forces of the other party,'' according to the document.

The agreement is to remain in force a period of 10 years, and will be enthrall to review by the parties at least single year before termination to consider the possibility of extending it subordinate to mutually acceptable terms, the document adds.

''Notwithstanding this, the parties may, at any time, terminate this agreement at means of a written notice to the other party, between the sides of diplomatic channels. Termination shall take efficiency six months following the date of notification,'' it notes.

Military analysts said the U emergencys the MLSA more than the Philippines, more with equal reason because of the ongoing U war against international terrorists. Thus, they said, the U maintains similar access arrangements with other countries where the U does not maintain a permanent military base, including in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh upon the Indian subcontinent, and in Indonesia in the Southeast Asian region.

The propos agreement, however, has angered militant clusters in the Philippines, warning it will pave the way for the U throngs to openly operate in the Philippines.

The U is wrapping up a joint counterterrorism exercise with the Philippine multitudes in the southern Philippines this month The U brought in communication equipment and other materiel during the six-month war games.

Many of its facilities, including its satellite schemes temporary shelters and other infrastructure, are not suited to being dismantled and carried back to their fireside bases.

With the MLSA, the equipment could remain in the Philippines and be used in the nearest war games that both forces plan to escort in the future.

U and Philippine companys are planning to start a series of joint war games again in October.

A senior defense official said the propos agreement would enhance ''interoperability and supportability of U military operations in the war against international terrorism. The agreement would actually shortage the existing Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which the Philippines and the U forged in May 1999''

The U has been trying to forge an acquisition-and-cross-servicing agreement (ACSA) with the Philippines since 1994 on the other hand then President Fidel Ramos decided to shelve the plan following mounting opposition from militants.

The MLSA is apparently an ''ACSA-type arrangement in subordination to a different name,'' its rivals charge.

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