Presidential peace adviser Secretary Jesus Dureza (second from right) meets with Kjartan Sekkingstad (second from left), his brother Odd Kåre and Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende in Oslo, Norway Sunday afternoon. (Photo from the Royal Norwegian Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
OSLO, Norway – Presidential peace adviser Secretary Jesus Dureza met with Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad here Sunday afternoon in a dinner hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende.
Sekkingstad was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf along with Canadian nationals John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, and Filipina Tess Flor from a resort on Samal Island on September 21 last year at a luxury resort in the Island Garden City of Samal in the Philippines. He was released on September 18 and was fetched by Dureza from Jolo, Sulu.
In a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo after the signing of the joint statement for the second round of talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, Brende thanked Dureza and President Rodrigo Duterte for securing the release of Sekkingstad.
“I also would like to take this opportunity to thank Secretary Dureza and Pres. Duterte personally for also their commitment in securing the release of Mr. Sekkingstad. I have very seldom see such a personal commitment to a cause shown by Secretary Dureza and I’m so thankful for all these,” Brende told reporters.
Dureza also thanked the Royal Norwegian Government for facilitating the peace talks between the government and the NDF.
“It’s a small price for the kind of support that you’ve given to us,” he said. The GRP-NDF second round of talks was again facilitated by the RNG from October 6 to October 9. (davaotoday.com)
