Manila: Ambassadors of the European Union urged the Philippine government to continue pursuing comprehensive peace process with Filipino-Muslim rebel leaders, adding the EU is willing to extend financial assistance to an “insurgent-free” southern Philippines.
“Our visit to Mindanao demonstrates the EU’s continuous support for the Mindanao peace process and development in the region,” EU Ambassador Franz Jessen said on Tuesday, after the last leg of EU diplomats’ visit to Cotabato City on October 3.
“While there are still many challenges which lie ahead, we remain hopeful that peace and stability will be restored soon in Mindanao. We call on peace stakeholders to remain steadfast with their commitment to help push for peace-building in southern Philippines,” Jenssen said.
Meeting with MILF
During the visit, seven EU ambassadors, four EU deputy ambassadors, and other EU delegates met with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf/Moro rebels) chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, Autonomy Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) executive secretary Laisa Alamia; members of the UN Mindanao Humanitarian Team, the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and non-government organisation, said Jenssen.
Noting the EU hopes for the complete implementation of the peace settlement signed by the Philippine government and the 38-year old Moro group in 2014 (after talks that began in 1997), Jenssen said, “The EU’s DNA is peace.”
The EU received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012, he added.
The EU became part of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) that was created in 2004 to monitor in the southern Philippines the implementation of the ceasefire agreement forged by the Philippine government and the Milf/Moro rebels in 2003.
The IMT is composed of 60 members from Brunei, European Union, Indonesia, Japan, Libya, Philippines, and Norway.
The EU has adapted a funding programme for different kinds of advocacies, said Jenssen, adding its list includes economic inclusiveness in the region, de-mining, mine risk-related education, human rights protection, income generation and campaign about the importance of implementing peace talks.
Jenssen was accompanied by the ambassadors of Austria, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands; deputy ambassadors of Germany, Hungary, France and Spain; and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF); and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
The Philippine government and the 46-year old Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have also forged two pro-autonomy peace settlement in Libya in 1976, and in Manila in 1996.
Comprehensive peace
President Rodrigo Duterte has been uniting contents of the peace settlements forged by the Philippine government with the MNLF and the Milf/Moro rebels for the attainment of comprehensive peace in the southern Philippines.
The Philippine government believes that forging a pro-autonomy peace settlement with Filipino-Muslim rebel leaders is the best option to prevent the proliferation of Filipino-Muslim extremists.
A Filipino terror group that were inspired by Daesh that is waging war in Syria and Iraq attacked Marawi City starting Many 23.
