Palace: Sison-Belmonte meeting 'a good start'

From ABS-CBN (Jul 11): Palace: Sison-Belmonte meeting 'a good start'

Malacañang welcomed the meeting between House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Communist Part of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison.

In a radio interview, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda described the meeting Belmonte and Sison as a ''good start."

He also welcomed Sison's declaration of support for the Philippines' case against China before a United Nations arbitral tribunal with regard to the South China Sea dispute.

''Magandang umpisa po ito na Speaker Belmonte and Mr. Joma Sison were able to speak to each other, and we certainly welcome the statement made by Mr. Sison on our case against China,'' he said.

Belmonte is in the The Hague, Netherlands as part of the Philippine delegation in the hearings in the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China.

Belmote and Sison met in Amsterdam last Thursday. Also present in the meeting was National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace panel chief Luis Jalandoni.

Lacierda said it is good that Belmonte and Sison met to discuss the possible resumption of the peace talks, noting that the government will always be willing to talk peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army/National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

''Alam niyo namang handa po ang ating panel, ang Philippine panel namang makipagtalakayan sa kanila tungkol sa isyu ng peace, ng kapayapaan dito sa CPP-NPA-NDF,'' he said.

However, he said several issues must be resolved first before the two parties go back to the negotiating table.

'''Yun nga lang, kailangan lang ayusin po 'yung ilang mga bagay para tuluyang magkaroon po ng pag-uusap sana."

Peace talks between the Philippine government and the communist leadership have stalled due to several issues, such as the NDF's demand that its detained consultants be released before the two parties resume talks.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/11/15/palace-sison-belmonte-meeting-good-start