British security adviser coming to Manila

MANILA, Philippines – The security adviser of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will arrive in Manila on Monday for a two-day visit to share the UK experience in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Robert Hannigan’s visit follows discussion between the United Kingdom Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and former presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza in Manila last May, according to British Ambassador Peter Beckingham.

“I am delighted that Robert Hannigan, with his intimate experience of negotiating peace in Northern Ireland, is visiting Manila. Of course there are many differences between the peace discussions in Northern Ireland and Mindanao, but if the parties in Mindanao can gain insight from Robert Hannigan’s work, then his visit will be valuable,” Beckingham said in a statement.

Hannigan will meet with the Cabinet’s security cluster and leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the statement added.

The idea of sharing experiences was initially brought up when President Arroyo met with former British prime minister Tony Blair last December, Beckingham said.

The British embassy statement said Hannigan is responsible for giving advise to Brown on British security policy, intelligence matters, crisis coordination and civil contingency planning.

Hannigan is also responsible for the coordination and funding of the UK intelligence agencies and for the UK national security strategy.

He was the principal adviser to Blair and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the peace process until 2007, including negotiations with political parties and liaison with the Irish government and the US administration.

Hannigan, who also served as political director general in Northern Ireland, facilitated the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

He worked with Blair, his chief of staff Jonathan Powell and successive Northern Ireland Secretaries Peter Mandelson, John Reid, Paul Murphy and Peter Hain to achieve the British government’s objective of establishing power-sharing institutions.

In a telephone interview, DFA spokesman Claro Cristobal said he is not aware of the arrival of Hannigan.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr. did not comment on what impact Hannigan will have on the Philippine government’s peace efforts in Mindanao.