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Thursday, February 15, 2007
Mayor's presence in Saudi talks 'valuable'
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Secretary Jesus Dureza welcomed the possible attendance of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the tripartite talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia next month.
Dureza said Duterte's presence in the Jeddah talks, which will have representatives from the Moro National Liberation Front, Philippine government, and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) attending, is "valuable," considering his stature and influence as one of the respected leaders in Mindanao.
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The government official said though that they are still discussing and finalizing the details of the talks with the Moro group and the OIC.
He did not say if Duterte was sure to attend the talks next month.
MNLF spokesman Absalom Cerveza earlier said the mayor would attend the meeting in Jeddah upon the invitation of jailed MNLF chair Nur Misuari.
Cerveza said Misuari is excited over the possible attendance of the mayor in the tripartite meeting since the two are friends.
Lawrence "Bong" Go, Duterte's aide, said they have not received any details of the scheduled talks in Jeddah, adding that the mayor has not scheduled or prepared for a trip to Jeddah for next month.
It was learned that Misuari invited the mayor as early as last September to take part in the meeting.
The tripartite meeting in Jeddah was postponed to the first week of March from the original schedule of March 17 to 18.
The Jeddah meeting was the recommendation of an OIC mission here last year. Its goal would be to assess the implementation of the 1996 final peace agreement between the MNLF and the government.
Duterte strongly pushed for the release of Misuari from detention, citing the role played by the MNLF chairman in attaining peace in Mindanao.
The detention of the 25-man peace team in a rebel camp in Panamao, Sulu was said to be due to the MNLF's apprehension that the scheduled talks would not push through.
The peace team led by Major Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino was, however, released after the OIC assured MNLF commander Ustadz Habier Malik that the Jeddah talks would go on as scheduled. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (February 15, 2007 issue)
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