PHL, EU officials take up Mindanao peace issue in Belgium

From GMA News (Jun 15): PHL, EU officials take up Mindanao peace issue in Belgium

Peace and development in Mindanao were one of the topics discussed in the 8th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) between the Philippines and the European Union (EU), in which new development initiatives were announced to help people in conflict-affected areas on the island.

“The signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro was hailed by both sides as a crucial milestone in the Mindanao Peace Process that paves the way for a final enduring peace in Mindanao,” said the Philippines and the EU in a joint statement about the meeting held in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday.

Manila informed the EU about the steps the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are doing regarding the Framework Agreement, such as work being done to complete the agreement’s Annexes and to put in place different mechanisms identified in it.

“The EU welcomed continuation of these positive developments and reiterated its commitment to support the process both politically and through development assistance,” the statement said.

Aside from these, the Philippines and the EU agreed on a development initiative that will aid the Mindanao peace process, and mentioned these will come from communities.

“The Peace Process in Mindanao will benefit from community-based development initiatives assisting more than 500 000 poor in the conflict-affected region of Bangsamoro,” the statement said.

The statement noted that the talks in the SOM in relation to progress in bilateral relations was done for “enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation” in areas, beside the Mindanao peace process, such as trade and investment, development cooperation, and human rights.

For instance, the Philippines shared developments on maritime transport in relation to EU policy.

“The Philippine side also updated the EU on developments in its efforts to strengthen its maritime administration and training system of seafarers so as to comply with the requirements of the (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) Convention,” the statement said.

Last week, Philippine vice president Jejomar Binay voiced confidence the Philippines will pass the next European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) audit in October and that the country is serious in complying with the STCW Convention.

Should the Philippines pass, it will avert a possible ban by the EU against Filipino seafarers.

The 9th PHL-EU SOM is slated for 2015 in the country. Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Mr. Viorel Isticioaia Budura and Philippine Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Evan P. Garcia co-chaired the 8th SOM.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/313010/news/nation/phl-eu-officials-take-up-mindanao-peace-issue-in-belgium