Sunday, June 28, 2015

MILF: BTC receives Turkish delegation

Posted to the MILF Website (Jun 27): BTC receives Turkish delegation

BTC receives Turkish delegation

Chairman Mohagher Iqbal and several commissioners of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission gladly received a high-level delegation from Turkey on Thursday (June 25) at the BTC office in Cotabato City.

Leading the delegation was Kerim Yildiz who is executive-director of Democratic Progress Institute (DPI), an independent non-governmental organization which seeks “to provide expertise, combining research and practicable approaches to broaden bases for wider public involvement in promoting peace and democracy building.”

The comparative study visit was made to explore knowledge and insights from the Southern Philippines peace process.

In the conversation that lasted four hours, issues on constitutional accommodations, art of negotiation and the protection for minority groups became prominent.

Chairman Iqbal told the delegates that foremost for any negotiator is to have solid control over his or her emotions.

Iqbal narrated how the MILF and GPH have reached the current achievements of the peace process, and expressed hope that the delegation would find insights that can be useful if they face a similar situation.

The 15-person delegation included Members of Parliament from Turkey’s main political parties; as well as policy makers; renowned journalists and media personalities; senior academics and members of Turkey’s Wise Persons Commissio
In the DPI official website, Director Kerim Yildiz stated that ‘this is an important and timely visit which comes at a critical point in the Philippines’ process, in particular in relation to the recent decommissioning of weapons’.

Other BTC commissioners present in the dialogue were Atty. Raisa Jajurie, Timway Melanio Ulama, Froilyn Mendoza, Talib Benito and Ustadz Ibrahim Ali.

Turkey has been active in the GPH-MILF peace process. It sits in the International Contact Group (ICG) together with the governments of United Kingdom, Japan, and Saudi Arabia and four international NGOs.

An international NGO from Turkey is also represented in the Third Party Monitoring Team which monitors compliance of the government and MILF to all signed agreements.

Turkey is also represented in the Independent Decommissioning Body which is chaired by its former diplomat to NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] Ambassador Haydar Berk. The IDB is tasked to oversee the decommissioning of MILF forces and weapons.

The study visit was made possible also by facilitation of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) whose Country Representative Mr. Ali Saleem accompanied the delegation.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/456-btc-receives-turkish-delegation

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