The Philippine government and the opposition National Democratic Front (NDF) held talks, the first of its kind after six years, in Oslo, Norway on Feb. 22, and reached an agreement on some issues.

In a joint statement published after the talks, they agreed to complete the peace talks within 18 months.

After taking office as president last year, Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino set it as a major policy of the government to create a peaceful atmosphere of the country and took some constructive measures to this end.

The opening of the peace talks is a result of the present government's positive measures.

Most of the Philippine people expect that the long-standing dispute, which successive presidents failed to solve, will be settled during Aquino's term of office.