Govt urges 'flexibility' from MILF on wealth-sharing as KL talks extended

From InterAksyon (Jul 12): Govt urges 'flexibility' from MILF on wealth-sharing as KL talks extended

The government has appealed to the Moro Islamic Liberationt Front not to be "caught up in the trees and missing the forest" as both panels agreed to extend Friday what was supposed to be four days of formal talks in Kuala Lumpur.

"We have extended the talks up to today," government chief negotiator Miriam Ferrer said in a statement Friday, adding that both parties "need to find good compromises on key issues like taxation and revenue sharing."

"Hopefully tday we will find solutions but we need flexibility on both sides," Ferrer said.

The government panel was earlier hopeful that discussions on the wealth-sharing annex would be concluded during this week's round of formal negotiations.
Ferrer, in her opening statement Tuesday, hinted that the talks might result in the signing of one of the three remaining drafts.

"A few days ago, several friends, all leading lights in their respective organizations, visited me in the office to express their support. They even brought a gift -- a pair of pens. And we all know on what occasions we have special use of pens. That’s why I have these pens with me in this trip," she said.

In  Malacanang, deputy Palace spokesperson Abigail Valte said the fact that both sides agreed to extend the talks was "a good thing."

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/66188/govt-urges-flexibility-from-milf-on-wealth-sharing-as-kl-talks-extended