Implement Past Peace Deals, OIC Urges PH

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 18): Implement Past Peace Deals, OIC Urges PH

The 57 foreign ministers of the member-states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have welcomed the Oct. 15 Framework Agreement (FA) even as they called on the Philippines to fully implement the 1976 and 1996 peace pacts. The OIC, the second biggest international group next to the United Nations, convened in Djibouti, East Africa, on Nov. 15 to 17 for the 39th Session of the Council for Foreign Ministers (CFM) with the themed “Session of Solidarity for Sustainable Development.” Present from the Philippines were delegations from the government, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Ambassador Rafael Seguis headed the Government of the Philippines (GPH), Chairman Nur Misuari represented the MNLF, and Al-Haji Murad Ebrahim led the MILF. They again mentioned Muslim issues in the Philippines in their “Djibouti Declaration” (OIC/CFM-39/Djibouti-Dec./Final) and in their “Resolution No. 2/39-MM on Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines.” Prominent in the Djibouti Declaration on Page 5 is the Framework Agreement (FA) announced on Oct. 15. “We welcome the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as a first step towards the legitimate demands of the Muslim Bangsamoro people in Southern Philippines,” the 57 foreign ministers of the OIC said. They also reiterated their call on the GPH to fully implement the 1976 Tripoli Agreement (TA) and 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) which the GPH and MNLF signed. The OIC’s foreign ministers also welcomed the meeting on the sidelines of the conference between the MNLF and the MILF. Present during the two Moro groups’ meeting were Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanuglo. They urged “the two fronts to unify efforts and coordinate positions for the benefit of the Bangsamoro people, asking Allah to grant success to these efforts.” It could be recalled that the OIC has been for some years trying to forge unity between the MNLF and the MILF.....

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