Joint Statement by the GRP and NDFP Negotiating Panels

The Negotiating Panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) meeting in Utrecht and The Hague, The Netherlands on 6-9 March 2001 in order to renew the joint commitment of the GRP and the NDFP to a just and lasting peace, hereby announce the resumption of the peace negotiations under the following principles and premises: 

The Negotiating Panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) meeting in Utrecht and The Hague, The Netherlands on 6-9 March 2001 in order to renew the joint commitment of the GRP and the NDFP to a just and lasting peace, hereby announce the resumption of the peace negotiations under the following principles and premises:

1. The two Parties declare their firm adherence to the principle that the GRP-NDFP Peace Negotiations are a continuing process between the Parties to address the roots of the armed conflict.
2. The Parties uphold and affirm the validity and binding charcter of the ten bilateral agreements (Annex A hereof) that were entered into between them from 1 September 1992 to 7 August 1998 as the framework and foundation for the resumption of the peace negotiations.
3. The reinstatement of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) shall be accomplished through written notices by the principals of both Parties and transmitted to each other before the date of the actual resumption of the peace negotiations.
4. Prior to the resumption of the formal peace negotiations, the Negotiating Panels shall form, authorize and operationalize their respective Reciplocal Working Committees on Social and Economic Reforms (RWC-SER) and give notice thereof to each other.
5. The Parties have agreed to discuss the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) as provided for in Part V thereof.
6. The GRP and NDFP shall resume formal peace negotiations on 27 April 2001 in a mutually acceptable foreign neutral venue in accordance with this Joint Statement, The Hague Joint Declaration dated 1 September 1992, the JASIG, the Joint Agreement on the Formation, Sequence and Operationalization of the Reciprocal Working Commitees (RWCs) dated 26 June 1995.

The agenda of such resumption of formal peace negotiations shall include the exchange of credentials of the two Panels which should include the approval of this Joint Statement by the Principals, opening statements of the panel chairmen, and the opening of the formal negotiations on Social and Economic Reforms between the respective Reciprocal Working Committees of the two Parties.

7. Both Parties have agreed to continue undertaking goodwill and confidence building measures to enhance the atmosphere and promote the progress for the resumption of the peace negotiations. In response to the appeals of the families, human rights organizations and religious groups, the GRP shall take steps to accelerate the release of prisoners and detainees contained in a list provided by human rights organizations.

 NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

Luis G. Jalandoni Chairperson, NDFP Negotiating Panel

Fidel V. Agcaoili Member

Coni K. Ledesma Member