PRESS RELEASE
Department of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                *             Tel. No. 834-4000               *              www.dfa.gov.ph
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No. 282-03;  07 June 2003
NORWAY REITERATES COMMITMENT TO PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN PEACE PROCESS

The Government of Norway remains committed to doing all it can to help move the Philippine peace process forward.  This commitment was reiterated to Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople by Norwegian State Secretary Vidar Helgesen who called on the Secretary yesterday.

“The Philippines welcomes Norway’s commitment to the success of our peace process.  I told State Secretary Helgesen that we continue to view the role of Norway as an important element in our efforts at arriving at a final peace agreement with the remaining communist rebels in the Philippines,” Secretary Ople said.  Secretary Ople had met State Secretary Helgesen last October in Oslo when Secretary Ople met with the Norwegian Foreign Minister to discuss the possible role that Norway could play in ensuring the success of the peace process.

State Secretary Vidar Helgesen is currently in Manila to meet with Philippine officials and to discuss further steps that have to be taken to ensure the conclusion of a final peace agreement with the communist rebels.  State Secretary Helgesen has played an instrumental role in the other peace processes around the world that Norway helped facilitate.

“State Secretary Helgesen met with the members of our peace panel and other Philippine officials involved in the peace process.  All of us remain optimistic that we will be able to resume talks on a final peace agreement,” Secretary Ople said. 

“Norway is aware of our sincere desire for true and lasting peace and stands ready to help facilitate our peace talks,” the Secretary added.

While in the Philippines, State Secretary Helgesen will also meet with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice-President Teofisto T. Guingona, Speaker Jose De Venecia and other government officials as well as NGOs. END.