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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippine gov't claims breakthrough in peace talks with MILF |
| 2008-07-28 |
| (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government said Sunday evening breakthrough has been made in peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on ancestral domain, one day after the MILF said the talks broke down due to renewed disputes over the issue. Presidential peace process adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. told local TV network GMA News that the "breakthrough" was achieved Sunday evening and it would pave the way for the signing of a framework agreement on the ancestral domain next month. "With this positive development in the negotiations, the signing of the framework on ancestral domain is tentatively set early August this year," Esperon was quoted as saying. The two sides signed a joint communique during their meeting in Kuala Lumpur Sunday evening, with government negotiation panel chairmen Rodolfo Garcia and MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal giving their respective signatures. The MILF said Saturday that the peace talks with the government held on July 24 to 25 broke down because the government side attempted to make changes on the agreed upon issues on ancestral domain, which is referred to most of the Muslim areas in Mindanao. |
| Posted by:Fred |