3 March 2005 – Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Brillantes announced that Norway reiterates its commitment to the Philippine peace process and its role as third country facilitator in the peace talks between the government and the leftist groups.

This commitment was conveyed by Deputy Director General Tore Hattrem of the Peace and Reconciliation Section of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a forum held today at the Department of Foreign Affairs entitled “Norway’s perspectives in global peace building”, attended by government officials led by Acting Secretary Brillantes and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, as well as representatives from other agencies who have strategic participation in the Philippine peace process, such as the AFP, PNP, DILG, Commission on Human Rights and the DOJ.

Acting Secretary Brillantes said the forum, hosted by the Foreign Service Institute, provided an opportunity for Philippine government officials to listen to Norway’s diverse experiences as peace broker and facilitator in peace processes across the globe and its insights on international peace and security. “Norway is well aware of the sincere desire of our government to attain a true and lasting peace with the communist groups”, the Acting Secretary said.

In his talk, Mr. Hattrem reiterated Norway’s commitment for the Philippine peace process to succeed and assured the government that Norway will do everything it can to push the peace talks forward.   Mr. Hattrem added that Norway remains optimistic that the peace talks will soon resume negotiations in Oslo, Norway, in pursuit of efforts of both GRP and NDF Panels at
arriving at a final peace agreement.

The peace talks with the communist groups have remained at a standstill since August 2004 after the rebel group announced a unilateral postponement of the negotiations in the light of the inclusion of the CPP/NPA and leftist leader Jose Maria Sison in the international terrorist listing.

Mr. Hattrem, accompanied by Mr. Vebjorn Dysvik, Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are in the country to meet with members of the Philippine government panel and other Philippine government officials involved in the peace process.

Over the last decade, Norway has played various roles in peace facilitation to different conflicts around the world. In Asia, apart from the Philippines, Norway is working in Sri Lanka and has supported the peace efforts in Aceh, Indonesia. In Africa, it is engaged in Ethiopia, Eritrea
and Sudan, while in Latin America, Norway was involved in the peace process in Guatemala and is still engaged in Colombia and Haiti.  Norway can also be remembered for its significant role in the Middle East peace process that resulted in the 1993 Oslo Accords between the Israelis and Palestinians. – END