OIC-GRP-MNLF Tripartite Meeting
Concludes by Agreeing to Form a Framework for Implementing
the 1996 Peace Agreement
Date: 13/11/2007
The tripartite meeting between the Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC), the Government of the Republic of
the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front
(MNLF) over the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement
has concluded its activities on November 12, 2007 in Jeddah.
In the final session, OIC Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin
Ihsanoglu described the meeting as historical considering
the results reached to move forward the peace process by
establishing a framework to rejuvenate the implementation of
the Agreement. In order to translate the peace process into
reality through economic and social development, Ihsanoglu
announced that upon his request the Islamic development Bank
(IDB) has allocated $16 million for the reconstruction of
Southern Philippines.
The
Secretary General thanked the delegations of the GRP and the
MNLF for what they have shown of commitment to the peace
agreement and thanked the members of the newly expanded OIC
Peace Committee for Southern Philippines (PCSP) for the
efforts exerted to help the two sides resolve their
differences and preserve the gains achieved. He hoped that
Prof. Nur Misuari, Chairman of MNLF, will be able to join in
the next session to benefit from his contribution to this
important process. Ihsanoglu reminded the meeting that the
OIC Ministerial Council (ICFM) has twice appealed to the GRP
to expedite the legal process against Misuari and see to his
early release to enable him to participate in the Tripartite
Meeting and to continue his constructive role in leading the
Bangsamoro people.
The Head of the Philippine Government Delegation, Nabil Tan
expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Secretary
General for the success of the meeting. The Head of the MNLF
delegation, Randolph Percasio described the meeting as
historical and considered it a positive step while thanking
the OIC for its initiative and promising that the MNLF will
do its duty in moving the peace forward.
As Chairman of the PCSP, Indonesian Ambassador Rezlan I.
Jenie, commended the positive spirit of the meeting and read
the final communiqué which announced the agreement to
establish five joint working groups on the following topics:
1. Sharia and Judiciary.
2. Special regional
security force and the unified command for the autonomous
region in Mindanao.
3. Natural resources and
economic development issues.
4. Political system and representation.
5. Education.
The working groups shall have
the mandate to review implementation of the 1996 final peace
agreement in their respective assigned topics and provide
recommendations to move the implementation of the peace
agreement forward. Each working group will be composed of
three experts from both the GRP and the MNLF. The meetings
of the working groups will be attended by representatives
from the Members of the OIC PCSP as facilitators.
Each joint working group is expected to submit its first
progress reports to the tripartite meeting through the OIC
by January 10, 2008. The report will be considered at the
next tripartite meeting to be convened on January 14, 2008
in a place to be decided later.
At the end of the meeting, OIC Assistant Secretary General
for international and humanitarian affairs, Ambassador Atta
Al-Manan Bakhit and Ambassador Sayed Qasim El-Masry, OIC
Secretary General special envoy for peace in southern
Philippines and the heads of the GRP and MNLF delegations
held a joint press conference.
