‘Common grounds’ urged for peace negotiations

From the Manila Bulletin (Dec 14): ‘Common grounds’ urged for peace negotiations

The Council of Foreign Ministers has urged the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) to exert efforts to find the “common grounds” between the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), and the 1996 Final Peace Accord.

The framework agreement was signed in Malacañang in October, 2012, by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), while the Final Peace Agreement was signed by the national government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Jakarta, Indonesia, in September 1996.

It can be recalled that the MILF is a breakaway group of the MNLF.

In a resolution adopted during the 40th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held from December 9 to 11 in Guinea, the body urged the OIC Secretary General to exert efforts to find common grounds between the FAB and the final peace pact regarding the implementation of the 1976 Tripoli Peace Agreement.

This, the council said, will ensure that the gains of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the FAB and its Annexes are fully implemented with the end goal of integrating the gains achieved in these peace agreements in the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

The FAB serves as the blueprint for the establishment of the Bangsamoro political entity that will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

It was learned that this can be achieved through ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

The OIC also recognized the peace efforts between the GPH and the MILF in reaching a comprehensive agreement that would help improve the situation of Muslims in the Mindanao region.

It also eyed that the FAB would be concluded in line with 1976 Tripoli Peace Agreement.

The OIC sits as an observer in the GPH-MILF peace negotiations.

It also facilitates the Tripartite Implementation Review of the 1996 FPA between the government and the MNLF.

The Philippine government was represented during the OIC meeting in Guinea by Department Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, Undersecretary Jose Lorena of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Undersecretary Nabil Tan of the Office of the Executive Secretary, Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Alex Lamadrid, and Atty. Zoilo A. Velasco of the DFA.

http://www.mb.com.ph/common-grounds-urged-for-peace-negotiations/