Norway agrees to host peace talks

Norway has agreed to host peace talks between the government and the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) from April 27 to May 1.

Retired Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process, said yesterday Norwegian Ambassador Tal Moe relayed the information to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a diplomatic note last April 18.

Ermita said Norway’s role in the peace talks is not yet clear but that it would be known two days after the negotiations between the government and the NDF start in Oslo.

Earlier, President Arroyo signed the travel orders of members of the Philippine delegation led by former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III as chief government negotiator.

Quoting from the diplomatic note, a DFA source said the Norwegians have offered to pay for the air fare and hotel accommodations of the 29 NDF peace negotiators.

"There might be a problem if Norway does not help the NDF because the NDF particularly sought help for that," the source said. "Maybe it is a way of recognizing the Philippines’ initiative and efforts to make peace with the communist rebels."

The NDF has asked the Norwegian government for assistance.

However, the source said the government will shoulder the traveling and other expenses of the 20-man Philippine delegation to the peace talks.

The source said the DFA has started processing the passports of government negotiators in time for their departure for Oslo on April 26.

Norway’s help in the peace talks would be limited to providing for the venue and nothing more, the source added.

The source said the DFA will remain in charge of administrative matters as the peace talks are an internal matter that is within the sovereignty of the Philippines.

In a meeting last April 11, Cabinet Cluster E agreed that peace talks between the government and the NDF be held in Oslo as the communist rebels had proposed.

On the same day, the DFA sent a diplomatic note to the Norwegian Embassy to seek the Scandinavian country’s formal commitment to host the peace talks.

Earlier, Bello told reporters a ceasefire will pave the way for the government to hold talks with communist rebels in Oslo on April 27.

"All is clear for the talks to resume in Oslo," he said.

Sources had said foreign affairs officials met with their Norwegian counterparts to draw up the details of the planned peace talks in Oslo.

"I think Norway wants to play a substantive role," a source said. "We have to clarify with officials there what we want and if these are acceptable to them."

On Palm Sunday, exiled communist leaders Luis Jalandoni and Antonio Zumel arrived in the country with their wives for exploratory talks with the government before the formal resumption of talks.

Earlier, Jalandoni told reporters they had made arrangements with the Norwegian government for Oslo to be the venue of peace talks between the government and the NDF. – Marichu Villanueva, Aurea Calica