KUWAIT CITY – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is working to bring the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) together to cooperate in establishing the Bangsamoro Coordination Council.
OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu proposed the holding of a tripartite meeting between the Philippine government, the MNLF and the OIC to “find practical and implementable solutions for the remaining unresolved issues.”
Ihsanoglu visited Manila early this week upon the invitation of the Philippine government and MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim to witness the signing of the framework agreement between the government and the MILF.
After the ceremony on Monday, Ihsanoglu had an hour-long private meeting with President Aquino.
“The Secretary General assured the President of continuous support of the OIC to all peace efforts, and emphasized the unity of the Bangsamoro people which is needed now more than ever.
“The OIC at present is assisting the process of bringing MILF and MNLF together to intensify their cooperation and coordination. The establishment of a Bangsamoro Coordination Council is under discussion for that purpose,” the OIC said.
The proposed tripartite meeting is also expected to tackle difficulties in the full implementation of the MNLF’s 1996 Final Peace Agreement and any discrepancies that may exist between the agreements signed with the MNLF and the new framework agreement with the MILF.
“The issue will be discussed thoroughly by the next OIC Conference of Foreign Ministers scheduled to be held in Djibouti next month,” the OIC said.
During his private meeting with the President, Ihsanoglu congratulated Aquino for this important first step in terminating the long-standing conflict and expressed hope that it will usher in a new era of tranquility and peaceful development for the region.
Ihsanoglu emphasized the need to link the expected agreement that will come as a result of the framework agreement to the 1976 Peace Agreement with the MNLF.
The 1976 Tripoli Agreement constitutes a historic compromise and has gained the support of all Bangsamoro people and the 57 member-states of the OIC.
Ihsanoglu expressed hope that the new framework agreement will pave the way for a just and lasting peace for the Bangsamoro people, and commended the important and essential role played by Malaysia as a facilitator of the peace process.
After Ihsanoglu assumed his post in 2005 as OIC secretary general, the OIC initiated what is called the “Tripartite Process” to overcome all difficulties facing the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement of 1996.
More recently, the OIC has been observing the bilateral negotiations between the MILF and the Philippine government that led to the framework agreement.
Ihsanoglu expressed hope that this framework agreement will be a first step towards finding a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Muslim Mindanao.
He asserted the position of the OIC that the 1976 Agreement would continue to form the basis for any settlement of the conflict, provided that it is acceptable by all factions of the Bangsamoro people.
