Norway vows support to PH in peace talks with communist rebels

MANILA, Philippines — The Norwegian government has assured the Aquino administration of its continuing support to the Philippines’ peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

At the sidelines of the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting Leaders’ Summit in Vientiane, Laos, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg assured President Aquino of Norway’s “continuing assistance” to the peace process, the DFA said.

Stoltenberg also congratulated Aquino on the recent signing of the Framework Agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Norway is a member of the International Monitoring Team for the GPH-MILF Peace Process and is the third country facilitator for the peace talks between Manila and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, CPP’s political wing whose leaders are on a self-imposed exile in The Netherlands.

It was the second meeting of the two leaders since Aquino’s took office in 2010.

According to the DFA, Aquino and Stoltenberg agreed to elevate the level of Philippine-Norway bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of political and economic cooperation as well as in maritime, environment and labor areas.