From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 4): GPH, MILF peace talks resume July 8
The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume peace negotiations on July 8.
"The MILF as an organization has agreed on the schedule of the peace talks this coming July 8 or 9," said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda in a press briefing.
"I don’t think there’s any spoiler. They’ve (MILF) raised some concerns but we are pushing through with the peace talks this July next week. So there’s no issue with MILF on that point. We are still talking about the annexes," he said.
Last month, chief government negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer submitted the government's final wealth-sharing annex draft to her MILF counterpart, Mohagher Iqbal, when they met informally at a forum inNorway
Ferrer said the government panel only wanted to exercise prudence.
"The President is committed to delivering an agreement that will allow the Bangsamoro to enjoy effective and meaningful fiscal autonomy but also take into account the legal, political, and administrative constraints of the central government," she said.
"These are the considerations as to why government wishes to introduce some changes to the draft annex, particularly with regard some aspects of taxation, fund transfer mechanisms, and revenue sharing," she added.
As to power-sharing, Ferrer said both panels are trying to arrive at a language that will make the annex "legally defensible and doable."
Meanwhile, with regards to the travel advisories issued byCanada and Australia
Australia and Canada earlier warned about fresh threats of terrorism and kidnapping in the southern Philippines
Both countries urged their citizens not to travel to large parts of the Mindanao region, with the Australian government specifically barring its diplomats from the cities ofDavao
Lacierda said that foreign countries likeCanada and Australia
"We understand the reason for their doing so but we can assure them that our responsibility as a nation is to ensure the safety of our own citizens as well as the visitors who come here," he said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&sid=&nid=0&rid=541055
The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume peace negotiations on July 8.
"The MILF as an organization has agreed on the schedule of the peace talks this coming July 8 or 9," said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda in a press briefing.
"I don’t think there’s any spoiler. They’ve (MILF) raised some concerns but we are pushing through with the peace talks this July next week. So there’s no issue with MILF on that point. We are still talking about the annexes," he said.
Last month, chief government negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer submitted the government's final wealth-sharing annex draft to her MILF counterpart, Mohagher Iqbal, when they met informally at a forum in
Ferrer said the government panel only wanted to exercise prudence.
"The President is committed to delivering an agreement that will allow the Bangsamoro to enjoy effective and meaningful fiscal autonomy but also take into account the legal, political, and administrative constraints of the central government," she said.
"These are the considerations as to why government wishes to introduce some changes to the draft annex, particularly with regard some aspects of taxation, fund transfer mechanisms, and revenue sharing," she added.
As to power-sharing, Ferrer said both panels are trying to arrive at a language that will make the annex "legally defensible and doable."
Meanwhile, with regards to the travel advisories issued by
Both countries urged their citizens not to travel to large parts of the Mindanao region, with the Australian government specifically barring its diplomats from the cities of
Lacierda said that foreign countries like
"We understand the reason for their doing so but we can assure them that our responsibility as a nation is to ensure the safety of our own citizens as well as the visitors who come here," he said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&sid=&nid=0&rid=541055