18 MARCH 2004 – The Malaysian Government has  officially communicated to the Department of Foreign  Affairs and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on  the Peace Process (OPAPP) of the arrival of its 16-man  advance survey team of the International Monitoring  Team (IMT) on 22 March 2004, Foreign Affairs Secretary  Delia Domingo Albert today said.

The arrival of the team forms part of the agreements  reached during the successful conduct of the 5th  Exploratory Talks between the Government and the MILF  Panels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last 19-20 February  2004.

“The advance team serves as a prelude to the actual  deployment of the Malaysian-led IMT which is tasked to  observe and monitor the implementation of the GRP-MILF  agreement on the cessation of hostilities,” Secretary  Albert said.

The Joint GRP-MILF Coordinating Committees on the  Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) are presently  undertaking preparatory activities in close  coordination with the Local Government Units for the  successful conduct of the visit.

After their arrival on the 22nd, the Advance Team will  pay a joint call on DFA Acting Secretary Rafael E.  Seguis and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process  Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles on Tuesday, 23 March  2003 and will hold a press briefing at the Department  of Foreign Affairs.

“We are highly confident that the presence of the IMT  Advance Survey Team in the country will serve to  strengthen the existing ceasefire agreement between  the Government and the MILF, “ Secretary Albert said.  “We are looking forward to the Advance Team’s arrival  and eagerly await the eventual deployment of the IMT.”   - END