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Monday, September 10, 2007
Government-MILF peace talks to continue
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave her commitment Saturday to resume peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in a talk with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Bin Ahmad Badawi during a break in the leaders' session at the 15th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Sydney, Australia.
"We are going to resume. I think we are ready to resume," Arroyo told Filipino journalists in Sydney. She said she and Badawi talked about the "details of the issues and not ending" the negotiations.
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"He (Badawi) was urging me to go back (to the negotiating table). We want the peace talks to succeed and that we should go back to the peace tables," she added.
The Philippine government and MILF panels were supposed to meet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 22 for the resumption of formal talks but new government panel chairman Rodolfo Garcia asked for a postponement to better prepare for the talks. He said he needed further consultations with sectors that would be affected by certain policies and possible peace agreement.
The President told Badawi that the Philippine government remains committed to a peaceful and permanent solution to Mindanao's problems.
She said the postponement had nothing to do with the ongoing military offensives against the Abu Sayyaf and those behind the July ambush in Basilan that killed 14 soldiers. She added that the offensives are conducted "under strict orders to respect the ceasefire guidelines" with the MILF.
She also thanked Badawi for Malaysia's continued support in the talks including its approval of the extension of term and expansion of the area of coverage of the International Monitoring Team that it also heads.
Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said a final date has yet to be set by the Malaysian government, the Philippines, and MILF.
Asked if the start of the Ramadan on September 13 could affect or even delay the resumption of talks, Dureza said there had been a time in the past negotiations that the meetings were held during the Muslim's holy month, but he is not sure if it would be replicated this year. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (September 10, 2007 issue)
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