Norway is poised to once again host talks aimed at bringing peace between the government of the Philippines and the country’s communist insurgents. Representatives for both sides have agreed on a new effort to resume peace talks in Oslo next month.
News bureau NTB reported that the communists’ chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni is willing to take part in the talks after the government promised to release several imprisoned insurgents. The latest breakthrough came after a special adviser for Norway’s Foreign Ministry traveled to the Philippines to meet leaders for both sides.
Earlier peace talks ground to a halt because of a demand that 13 insurgents be released from prison. The government’s chief negotiator, Alexander Padilla, said the government had not promised to set them all free but that it’s open to the idea that they could be freed before talks begin in late October.
Views and News staff