(Eagle News) — The Philippines is committed to peace.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said this was the statement given by President Rodrigo Duterte during his meeting on Thursday night with Idun Tvedt, Norwegian special envoy for the peace process between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Duterte made the statement even after peace talks between the two parties collapsed last year.
According to Roque, Tvedt “reiterated the commitment of the Norwegian government to assist the Philippines in its peace process” with the communist rebels.
Roque said Duterte “welcomed Norway’s expression of commitment and stressed that the goal of peace must be achieved with due regard for the national interest of the Philippines” in the discussions that he said could be described as “warm and open.”
Roque said the meeting, which lasted for an hour, was “productive.”
