The government announced today that it is entering "the final, crucial stages of negotiations" with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ahead of the 31st round of peace negotiations which start in Malaysia this week. Teresita Quintos Deles, the government's adviser on the peace process, said Manila "remains cautiously optimistic" that a deal will be signed this year. She said the determination to forge an agreement was "shown by the serious preparations undertaken by both sides.” Deles, however, admitted that certain issues such as the details of power and wealth sharing, territorial scope, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of MILF fighters "will not be easy to settle."
