CS Pope tt? JOINT STATEMENT (ON THE SUCCESSFUL FOURTH ROUND OF FORMAL TALKS. BETWEEN THE GRP AND NDFP IN NOORDWUK AAN ZEE, THE NETHERLANDS ‘April 6, 2017 ‘The Negotiating Panels of the Government of the Repubie ofthe Philppines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philppines (NDFP), together wih thelr respective dologations of negotiating bodies, consultants, advisers, resource persons, cooperators and staff hold the fourth round of formal talks in Noordwik aan Zee, The Netherlands from April3 to 6, 2017. The fourth round was faciltated by the Royal Norwegian Goverment (RNG), in cooperation with the Dutch Goverment, [At the opening ceremonies on April3. RNG Special Envcy tothe Philppine Peace Process Elisabeth Sistum welcomed the two delegations. She commended the two Parti for their determination to move the peace process forward ater a brief impasse In February and March and reiterated the commitment ard continuing suppor of the RNG to the GRP.NDFP peace negotiations. ‘She congratulated both Panels and President Duterte for working through a tough crisis, land for showing perseverance, courage and genuine commitment to te achievement of peace for the beneft ofthe Filipino people, ‘The opening statements ofthe two Pasties were made by the following: GRP OPAPP Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, NOFP Chief Poltical Consultant Prof, Jose Maria Sison, GRP Negotiating Pane! Chairperson Sivestre H, Belo Ill and NDFP Negotiating Pane! Chairperson Fidel V. Agcaoil Prosidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Dureza haled the Fourth Round of Formal Taks, saying that, "This isthe farthest point that we have already achieved in ‘our negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NOF.”" He noted that he Parties are “sharing ‘common values and common aspirations for a better Philppines. In his opening statement, Professor Sison expressed optimism that within this year, tis possible forthe GRP and NDFP Negotiating Panels o foge and sign the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Refarms (CASER) and the consequent joint ceasefire agreement. He said that in reading and studying the drafts of the proposed agreements from the GRP and NOFP and fhe comparative matrices, he ‘observed that there are enough concurrences and similar postions as common ground for forging the agreements. He stressed, however, that as a matter of principle, CASER should be a step ahead of he joint ceasefire agreement, unless these agreemonts can \ be signed atthe same ime by the Panels and then by te principals. \y v (On the part of GRP Panel Chairperson Secretary Belo, he said that all negotiations, as, In other peace processes elsewhere, are all bout finding common ground in diversity ( i } fj & onPage 2087 He stressed that forging a ceasefire agreement isnot about giving in or giving up. tis about giving all for peace. NDFP Panel Chairperson Agcaoll shared Professor Sison's positive views and reiterated the wisdom of securing the approval ofthe CASER ahead of any singe joint ‘ceasefire agreement, unless both agreements could be signed simultaneously. He said thal the issue of ceasefire should not be pursued as an end in tsef and that ceaseties, ‘whether unilateral, bilateral or joint, ar just a means to an end. Treir main purpose is to Create conditions conducive to reaching agreements on basic reforms thal are Satisfactory to both sides. (On Implementation of CARHRIML and JASIG ‘Thied Round in Rome In January, The GRP responded by saying that ithas already \ forwarded the complaints tothe concemed goverment agencies and is awaiting further ‘developments. Both Parties submited an addtional set of complants to their respective Counterparts. They pledged to continue investigating the complaints submitted to them. \ ‘The NOFP asked about the status of the complaints it submitted tothe GRP during the ‘The NOFP submitted a formal letter of protest regarding the incident of survellance and harassment on March 16, 2017, directed at NOFP Panel Member Benito E. Tiamzon, Poltical Consultant Wima A. Tlamzon and a Legal Consultant. (On Release of NDFP Listed Prisoners Pursuant tothe Lirecht Joint Statement of March 11, 2017, the GAP Panel facitated the release of rearrested NOFP consultant Ariel Arbivaro (also known as Edgar ‘Arbiaro), enabling his partcpation in the Fourth Round ‘The GRP reported tha the President Commitee on Bat, Recognzance or Pardon (PCaReP) Secretariat has revawod th slaus of 23 NOFP sted psoners, 19 of wham (ned 8 consultants) have boon recommended for cnetonal pardon the PoBRep. 2 Regarding the release of the rest of the prisoners, both artes commited fo conte Oa explorng al expecious and acceptable ogl modes for tot rleacen consonance ‘i all prvious Oslo and Rome dent Statens \ yr )) The NDFP reiterated that the bail of consutants and other JASIG-frotcted persons) eS Peeseire Tho Gee ah'asea hte see af tas hernonane wes OT ‘The GRP will consider the concems raised by rT NDFP about the situations and welfare ofthe prisoners in Philippine. a .Page 3087 On Results of the Proceedings of the RWCs-SER The Reciprocal Working Committees on Social and Economic Reforms (RWCs-SER) firmed up their agreement on distibution of land for free asthe basi principle of ‘genuine agrarian reform, This is the main message ofthe bilateral meeting of the RWCs-SER and an achievement of the Fourth Round of Taks. Both Parties agreed to accelerate the process of concluding a Comprehensive ‘Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER). The RWCs-SER exchanged their respective comparative color-coded matrices Kentifying the contentious provisions. {and those that are asceptabla in principle in the NFP and GRP drafs, ‘The RWCs-SER identified the contentious provisions in the NOFP and GRP drafts Under Agrarian Reform and Rural Development |ARRD) and clustered them ino nine ‘major topics: coverage, confiscation, compensaion, lease/leaseback and plantations, intemational agreements/domestc aw, polical 2owerimplementation mechanisms, land use, private Insurance, and terminoiogies. ‘The RWCs-SER hel intial discussions on the contentious provisions of the ARRD. drafts. The RWCs-SER agreed to convene Bilateral Teams as defined in the Ground Rules agreed to during the Third Round of Talks. The teams willbe composed of three (3) members each and supervised by RWC-SER members to work on the sections on the ARRD and Natonal Industializaton and Economic Development (NIED). The bilateral teams agreed to hold meetings in Metro Manila, Philippines, or in any venue ‘mutually agreed upon by the Parties. The Parties agreed to the folowing schedules: ‘April 18, 2017 — Exchange of comments cn the contentious provisions of the seas : a er dh April22, 2017 ~ Meeting of the editing team to reconcile the draft minutes ofthe ‘Thi Round of RWCs-SER biateral meetings. We May 2, 2017 — Exchange of comments on the contentious provisions ofthe NIED |} drafts: May 4, 2017 ~Meeting of the NIED bilateral teams; rwoxsen BO May 19, 2017 ~ Submission of reports of he bilateral teams to ww 7 4