European Commission bullish on peace in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — The process may be slow but the European Commission is confident that peace would soon prevail in Mindanao.

"We always knew that the last hurdles were going to be those that would be most difficult to overcome. But you cannot give up now and shatter the dreams of those who desperately want to live in peace," said Ambassador Jan de Kok of the ongoing peace process in Mindanao.

De Kok stressed that as in any peace negotiation, the process would have its own pace but he expressed hope the ongoing peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would come to a final resolution that would mean long and lasting peace for Mindanao.

"You do not put a timetable to it as long as both sides keep talking, there is hope for peace in Mindanao," he added.

The government and the MILF have yet to break the impasse in the peace talks, following the heated disagreement last Sept.7 over contentious issues involving ancestral domain claims.

The Ambassador said he understands the dynamics of the peace process on the ground as he has traveled extensively across Mindanao talking to various stakeholders in the island.

De Kok said he surmised in his exposure to Mindanao that people are really committed to attaining peace in the South.

The European Commission launched here Friday its Rapid Reaction Mechanism in Mindanao in an effort to help achieve peace in the South.