Philippines’ peace talks with NDF to resume in August instead

Philippine House Speaker Jose de Venecia said July 19 that the peace talks with the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) will definitely resume at the end of August in Norway as he and House leaders from Mindanao lined up support for the fresh round of talks with Muslim secessionists that could bring permanent peace to the troubled South.      De Venecia’s announcement followed two crucial meetings earlier Saturday which he presided, signaling the Arroyo government’s serious efforts to end the 35-year-old communist insurgency and the spate of violence in Mindanao linked to the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).      “We will definitely resume the peace talks with the NDF in Oslo not this month, but at the end of August,” he said after meeting with Norwegian Ambassador Paul Moe.      He explained that most of Europe’s parliamentary leaders are on vacation at this time as he ruled out resumption of the talks in Oslo this month as originally intended. Related story “Norway bringing next hope for peace to Philippines”.

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