07/04/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 6 April, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service hailed the interim joint ceasefire agreement reached in the Philippines the previous day between the country's government and National Democratic Front. According to the spokesperson, this is an "encouraging step towards generating goodwill and trust in the peace negotiations, to encourage the forging of a more stable and comprehensive joint ceasefire agreement, and to provide an enabling environment for an early signing of a comprehensive agreement on social and economic reforms". If asked, the European Union stands ready to support the implementation of the agreement, the spokesperson stated. The interim agreement is to be effective until a permanent ceasefire agreement is forged as part of a comprehensive agreement. The conflict has been going on since 1968 and is reported by the army to have claimed 30,000 lives. (CG)