GOVERNMENT AND MILF BREAK IMPASSE ON TERRITORIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 003509 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017 TAGS: PREL PINS KISL RP SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT AND MILF BREAK IMPASSE ON TERRITORIAL ISSUE REF: A. MANILA 3471 (GOV AND MUSLIM INSURGENTS LARGELY AGREE ON TERRITORY) ¶B. MANILA 3392 (SECURITY ADVISOR ON WAY FORWARD IN MILF PEACE PROCESS) ¶C. MANILA 3313 (GOVERNMENT AND MILF NARROW DIFFERENCES ON TERRITORY) ¶D. MANILA 3193 (MUSLIM INSURGENTS MULL GOVERNMENT TERRITORIAL OFFER) Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front announced October 25 that they had achieved a significant breakthrough on territory for a new Muslim political entity during their latest executive session in Kuala Lumpur. Peace talks are expected to resume by mid-November, ending a 13-month impasse. Both parties will proceed to tackle other difficult issues in the peace process after a territorial agreement is signed. Remaining issues include governance, demobilization, integration of former insurgents, the legal requirement for a constitutional process and plebiscite, and harmonization of the MILF agreement with the existing final peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza informed Ambassador October 25 that the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) resolved their differences on territory for a new Muslim political entity during an October 23-24 executive session in Kuala Lumpur. The significant breakthrough was achieved after months of back-channel communications through Malaysia. Dureza said peace talks would likely resume by mid-November, ending a 13-month impasse over the territorial issue. ¶3. (C) Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro described the breakthrough to Ambassador October 25 as "good news," adding that he was focused on future issues in the peace process such as governance, demobilization, and the integration of former insurgents. Teodoro also reflected on President Arroyo's recent public comments that the time might be right for a broader discussion of federalism in the Philippines. ¶4. (C) In an October 24 joint statement (text in para 5), government and MILF peace panel chairmen Rodolfo C. Garcia and Mohagher Iqbal described the peace process as "firmly back on track." Garcia and Iqbal also expressed their appreciation to the international community for sustaining the momentum of the MILF peace process, and thanked the Malaysian government, articularly Prime Minister Badawi's advisor, Othan bin Abdul Razak, for his "untiring efforts." ¶5. (SBU) The text of the October 24 joint statemet issued by government and MILF peace panel chairen Rodolfo C. Garcia and Mohagher Iqbal follows: The GRP and MILF Peace Panels ended their two-dy special meeting today on a high note with bothsides expressing deep satisfaction over the succssful resolution of major issues to overcome the mpasse last September 2006 over the Ancestral Doain agenda on territory. The Parties acknowledgd the critical gains achieved in the recent sesson, which embodied the culmination of intensive ackchannel efforts since February 2007. The Panes expressed their readiness to resume the next round of exploratory talks by mid-November. The peace process is firmly back on track toward the holding of the Formal Talks before the end of the year, thereby concluding the negotiations on Ancestral Domain. The Panels extended their full appreciation to the international community and other concerned parties whose unflagging support and encouragement helped sustain the momentum of the peace process. Both sides expressed gratitude to the unwavering assistance extended by the Malaysian Secretariat and the untiring efforts of H.E. Datuk Othman bin Abdul Razak. The Panels thanks H.E. Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi for his steadfast support to the peace process and to H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her sustained commitment to the achievement of lasting peace in Mindanao. Done on the 24th of October 2007 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MANILA 00003509 002 OF 002 Signed by Rodolfo C. Garcia, GRP Panel Chair and Mohagher Iqbal MILF Peace Panel Chair End text. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ KENNEY