JOINT PRESS COMMUNIQUE BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES (GRP)
AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC)
EXPANDED MISSION
Upon the invitation of the Philippine Government, the
Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC) dispatched a fact finding mission
headed by His Excellency Sayed Kassem El-Masry to review
the implementation and status of the 1996 Peace
Agreement and to facilitate its full implementation. The
visiting mission arrived in Manila on the 17th of May
2006 and was joined by the members of the OIC Committee
of the Eight, represented by their Ambassadors based in
Manila, headed by the Ambassador of Indonesia with the
Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Brunei, Libya, Malaysia and
Saudi Arabia as members. They were also invited by the
Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
The OIC Expanded Mission together with the representatives
of the Philippine Government led by Presidential Adviser
on the Peace Process, Honorable Jesus Dureza, carried
out field visits to Mindanao from 18-21 May 2006.
On their return to Manila, Her Excellency President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo received the head and all the members
of the delegation and held a meeting with them where
they exchanged views about their findings.
In the course of the said visit, several issues pertaining
to the situation in Mindanao were discussed and there
were general agreements between the two (2) sides about
the following:
1. that there is a need to review the implementation of the
1996 peace agreement as it enters its 10th anniversary
with the tripartite participation of the GRP, OIC and
the MNLF and that a high-level tripartite meeting in
Jeddah be set as soon as practicable for such purpose;
the two (2) parties agreed that a preliminary meeting be
held in Baku during the 33rd ICFM to prepare the
groundwork for the Jeddah meeting;
2. that a renewed effort be mounted to bring the peace
dividends to the Bangsamoro People, especially in
Mindanao, with the support of interalia, the OIC member
states, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the fund
for Islamic Solidarity;
3. that the early resolution of the pending case against
Chairman Nur Misuari, within the framework of the
Philippine judicial process, will have a positive effect
in the common effort to bring peace and development in
Mindanao; the OIC Expanded Mission expressed the hope
that Chairman Nur Misuari will be able to participate in
the proposed tripartite meeting;
4. that the breakthrough for peace and unity in Sulu
brought about by the visit be sustained and spread
throughout Mindanao and that its progression geared
towards building peace, development and preserving the
environment creating the proper conditions for
eradicating terrorism in the area and elsewhere in the
country;
5. that the gains in the GRP-MNLF peace agreement and the
GRP-MNLF cooperation now taking place be made to
coverage to maximize and bring comprehensive peace and
development for the Bangsamoro people; and
6. that the Philippines will continue to seek its bid for
observer status in the OIC and seeks the assistance and
support of the OIC Secretary-General and member states.
DONE IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES ON THIS 22ND OF MAY 2006.
Jeddah: 24th
May 2006.
