Wednesday, March 16, 2016

MILF: EU envoys renew support to peace process

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Mar 16): EU envoys renew support to peace process



Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao --- Diplomats from the European Union (EU) reaffirmed on Monday (March 14) their common desire for the continuity of the peace process during their visit here to confer with the MILF Central Committee.

EU Head of Delegation Ambassador Franz Jessen said that their call on the MILF leadership was to “secure continuation of peace process in the next Philippine government.”

German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski emphasized that they “stand behind continuation of peace talks” while Netherlands Ambassador Marion Derckx expressed “full support and reaffirmation of the continuity of the peace process.”

MILF Chairman Alhaj Murad Ebrahim, who described the 10-man team as the “strongest delegation” in recent times to have visited the administrative base of the Front’s largest camp, acknowledged the concerns of the envoys.

He pointed out five issues that the MILF Central Committee considers as critical.
These are the uncertainty with the policy of the next administration; the pending case in the Supreme Court against the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB); unpredictability of situations “in the ground”; the structural arrangement of the Philippine government; and the diverging peace paradigms between the parties.

Murad said that all presidentiables have no clear stand yet on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

MILF Chief Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal described as “scary situation” if the Supreme Court would rule unfavorably on the CAB.

For his part, MILF First Vice-Chairman Ghadzali Jaafar decried the mistaken notion of policymakers that merely silencing guns is enough to achieve peace in the Bangsamoro.

He appealed to the European Union to assist the Bangsamoro in “influencing” the Philippine government.

The EU delegation also included Charge d’Affaires Mr. Nigel Boud (United Kingdom), Charge d’Affaires Mr. Mihai Sihon (Romania), Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Fabio Schina (Italy), Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Xavier Leblanc (Belgium), Deputy Head of Mission Ms. Maria del Carmen Barcia-Bustelo (Spain) and Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Laurent Legodec (France).

These member-countries of the European Union were all signatories to the  statement released on October 15, 2015 by the “International Supporters for Peace in the Philippines” calling for, among others, the giving of “ life to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro” (CAB) by remaining engaged in the peace process and seizing the opportunity to enable to the Bangsamoro people to form their government.

http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php/news/20-central-mindanao/629-eu-envoys-renew-support-to-peace-process

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