OSLO, Norway – With negotiations with communist rebels going smoothly at an unprecedented pace, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza left Wednesday for Brussels, Belgium where he was set to meet with leaders of the European Union (EU) Commission and brief them on the status of the Philippine’s peace efforts in Mindanao.
Dureza took brief leave from the peace talks of the Philippine Government (GRP) panel with the National Democratic Front (NDF) to give the European Commission an update on negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). He is expected back here Thursday afternoon.
He was set to meet with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Renders. Also present in the meeting would be EU Commission officials Julian Wilson, Acting Manager for Asia; Ambassador Michael Reiterer, David Haly and Heino Marius, Head and Deputy Head, respectively, of the Division for Southeast Asia; and Thomas Wiersing, Philippine Desk Officer.
Dureza said he took the time off from the peace talks with the communist rebels to honor an invitation from the EU Commission. (Rocky Nazareno)