6 July 2004 - Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert said that she remained confident that the peace process with the communist rebels remains firmly on track and that the issue of the terrorist listing of Mr. Jose Maria Sison and the New People’s Army could be addressed once it is clear that peace was at hand.

“We continue to look to the sincerity of the other side during these talks and their professed desire for peace.  We also look to the good offices being provided by Norway as third-party facilitator.  Altogether, I am confident that we are firmly on track on our peace process,” the Secretary said. The Secretary added that she has had close consultations with Norway on the peace process, particularly during her visit to Norway in April when she met with the foreign minister and prime minister of Norway.

The Foreign Affairs Secretary said that the third formal peace negotiations held between the Philippine Government and the NDF on 22024 June 2004 in Oslo, Norway was a transition meeting whereby both Panels updated each other on various issues such as terrorist listing, indemnification of human rights victims under the Marcos regime, work on social and economic reforms and agenda and venue of the next round of talks.
 

“I am confident that the regular holding of discussions between the two Panels has raised the level of trust and confidence between both parties and has heightened towards attaining a comprehensive and final peace settlement,” Secretary Albert said. “Through continuing negotiations, both Panels will be able to work out the specific details on various issues and concerns and come up with points of convergence.”

On terrorist listing issue, the Secretary said that “this will be resolved once the nations that labeled Mr. Sison and the NPA terrorists make their own determination that peace is at hand that that they are no longer terrorists,” the Secretary said.  She noted that today there are even more countries that have labeled Mr. Sison and the NPA terrorists, including some former communist-bloc countries that have joined or associated with the European Union.
 
“We are fully committed to reaching a final agreement with the NDF that will lead to lasting peace,” the Secretary said. “The next round of talks to be held in Norway is another significant step by both parties towards achieving this objective.” - END