Noy, MILF chief hold ‘secret talks’ By Michaela P. del Callar 08/06/2011

Noy, MILF chief hold ‘secret talks’

By Michaela P. del Callar 08/06/2011

President Aquino sneaked out of the country Thursday night to hold a secret meeting with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al Haj Murad.

They met in Japan, as pre-arranged. The meeting, it was claimed by Malacañang, had both Aquino and Murad agreeing to accelerate the ongoing negotiations in a bid to conclude a final peace agreement that had eluded the government and rebel group for years.

Government and MILF officials described the two-hour meeting at the Ana Crown Hotel in the Tokyo suburb of Narita as “very cordial, frank and intimate.” Aquino and Murad, they said, discussed some possible approaches that the two negotiating parties can take to bring about a peaceful settlement to the Mindanao conflict.

“Both agreed that the implementation of any agreement should happen within the current administration. Both agreed to fast track the negotiations,” said government Chief Peace Negotiator Marvic Leonen, who was among several government officials who accompanied Aquino in Japan. He said it was Aquino who had initiated the meeting as an offshoot of a previous round of talks with the MILF in Kuala Lumpur..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110806hed1.html