Switzerland: Peace deal is ‘momentous milestone’

Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, front left, chairperson of Philippine Government Peace Panel, and Mohagher Iqbal, front right, chief negotiator for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), exchange signed documents as Malaysian facilitator Abdul Ghafar Tengku Mohamed, front center, witnesses after the 43rd GPH-MILF Exploratory Talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. The Philippine government and the country’s largest Muslim rebel group completed talks Saturday on a deal to end four decades of fighting that has killed tens of thousands of people and helped foster Islamic extremism in Southeast Asia. AP

MANILA, Philippines—The Switzerland government on Saturday welcomes the signing of the Annex on Normalization and the Addendum on Bangsamoro Waters between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In a statement, Switzerland said the agreement marks the successful conclusion of the peace negotiations between the two parties.

“This is a momentous milestone towards a long-lasting peace in the southern Philippines. It signals the end of a lengthy and complex negotiation process and demonstrates the parties’ commitment to achieve peace through this historic agreement,” it said in a statement.

Switzerland also welcomes the MILF’s pledge as a signatory to the Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment banning antipersonnel mines, and that it has agreed to work with Geneva Call on the prohibition of sexual violence and the protection of women.

Switzerland is confident that the full adherence of the parties to the provisions of the four annexes of the agreement and the support of all groupings in the region towards the successful implementation of this peace settlement will significantly enhance stability and the human security of the people in Mindanao.

“The conclusion of the negotiations marks a crucial step for the establishment of the Bangsamoro in Mindanao,” it said.

Switzerland further hopes that the conclusion of this accord will contribute towards the resolution of other conflicts and positively influence the stability in the country.

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