Below is an article published by The Gulf Today:

A 15-member delegation of the European Union (EU) made a historic visit to the main camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao province in Mindanao to reiterate their support and commitment to bring just and lasting peace to restive Southern Philippines, according to an official announcement.

Aside from the visit, the delegation, led by EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux, also held talks with officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Friday [25 April 2014].

ARMM, composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi as well as Marawi City, is to form the “core territory” of the new Bangsamoro political entity to be set up under the peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF.

“We are here to support the (Mindanao) peace process,” said Ledoux who led the delegation composed of five ambassadors and other officials from the EU member states like Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Romania and Czechoslovakia.

Ledoux disclosed the EU has provided about $200 million in assistance to help bring just and lasting peace as well as end decades-long war and violence in strife-torn Mindanao.

After an hour-long meeting with ARMM officials, the delegation paid a historic visit to the main camp of the MILF in the town of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao where they conferred with front leaders headed by their chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.