Joint Statement - 14th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks (November 15 2007)

• Country/entity

  Philippines
  Mindanao
  
• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  Asia and Pacific
  
• Agreement name

  Joint Statement - 14th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks (November 15 2007)
• Date

  15 Nov 2007
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Philippine Insurgencies (1968 - ) )
• Stage

  Pre-negotiation/process
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  Philippines - Mindanao process
• Parties

  Rodolfo C. Garcia, GRP Panel Chair;
  Mohagher M. Iqbal, MILF Panel Chair
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  Agreement by the Parties, informing on the 14th Exploratory Talks which achieved significant headway on the topic of Ancestral Domain to the point where the Parties are prepared to begin drafting a memorandum of agreement on Ancestral Domain. The Parties also requested the extension of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), and renewed the interim guidelines for the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) for 1 year.

• Agreement document

  PH_071115_Joint Statement.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

JOINT STATEMENT

The GRP and MILF Peace Panels resumed the peace negotiations after a fourteen-month impasse since September 2006.

The 14" Exploratory Talks which opened on November 4.

2007 in Kuala Lumpur successfully ended today with the resolution of outstanding issues on the territory strand of the Ancestral Domain aspect.

Building on the progress attained during the special meeting last October, both sides affirmed all previous points of consensus on the core items of the territory issue, and achieved significant headway in defining key principles relating to maritime domains.

The successful outcome of discussions clears the way for the drafting of the memorandum of agreement on Ancestral Domain which shall be tabled at the Formal Peace Talks scheduled early 2008.

Both sides discussed the current limited tenure of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and decided to jointly appeal to the Malaysian Government to accede to their request for extension of the tour of duty of the IMT personnel, and expansion of the IMI areas of coverage as earlier agreed.

The appeal was presented by the Chairmen of both Panels during a brief courtesy call on the Hon Deputy Prime Minister and concurrent Minister of Defense YAB Dato’ Sri Hj.

Mohd Najib bin Tun Hj.

Abdul Razak who responded positively.

Both sides agreed to immediately renew the interim guidelines of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AH JAG) for a period of one (1) year beginning November 16, 2007.

Both Panels considered and accepted the offer of the Government of Canada to join the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

Both Panels also considered and accepted the proposal of the Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines (PCBL) and the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (Fondation Suisse de Deminage – FSD), subject to the final determination of the terms of reference by the Joint Ceasefire Committees.

The Panels conveyed cd their appreciation to H. E. Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah bin Hj.

Ahmad Badawi for the Malaysian Government's continued assistance in keeping the peace process on track, and to H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's continued support in pushing forward the Mindanao peace process,

Done on the 15th of November 2007 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

FOR THE GRP:

RONDOLFO C. GARCIA (GRP Panel Chair)

FOR THE MILF:

MOHAGNER IQBAL (MILF Panel Chair)