Norway joins int’l group monitoring peace talks By Michaela P. del Callar 06/08/2010

Norway joins int’l group monitoring peace talks

By Michaela P. del Callar 06/08/2010 Norway has formally accepted membership in the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT), which oversees the ceasefire agreement between government troops and Muslim rebels in the restive southern Philippines, the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said. In its Web site, the MILF said the confirmation was contained in a letter by Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Knot Solem, addressed to chief government peace negotiator Rafael Seguis and copy furnished to his counterpart in the MILF. Norway, which earlier condi-tionally accepted the offer of the government and MILF peace panels to join the IMT last May, said it is interested to join the security component of the team, the MILF said. Norway is the second newest member to join the IMT after the European Union. Original members were Malaysia, Brunei, Libya and Japan. The IMT has been credited for significantly reducing clashes between the military and the Muslim rebels in the country’s volatile South. It has four components namely, security, socio-economic, humanitarian and civilian protection.... MORE     Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100608hed4.html

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