Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 10/11/2007
Jeddah- kingdom of Saudi Arabia 10-12 November 2007 Excellencies Heads of Delegations Distinguished Participants and Guest Ladies and Gentlemen Assalamu Aleykum Wa Rahmetullahi Wa Barakatuhu Allow me at the outset to express my pleasure in welcoming you to the inaugural session of the Tri-Partite Meeting of which the parties are the OIC, the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Eleven years ago, these three parties put their signatures on a historic document ending long years of bloodshed and turmoil and ushering a road that was full of hopes and great expectation. This historic document which was called the Final Peace Agreement was signed in 1996, but it met great difficulties that impeded its full implementation. When I took office two years ago, the situation was moving from bad to worse and the gap between the two parties was widening. Each side has a different assessment of the implementation of the agreement. The yesterday peace partners were marching rapidly towards confrontation that could become dangerous. That is what made me engage in contacts with the two parties to try to find a way out of this dangerous deadlock. I was gratified by the quick response of the GRP to my initiative to send a fact finding Mission to the Philippines to verify the situation on the ground. The mission undertook its visit to the Philippines from 17 to 24 May 2006. In this connection, I wish to express gratitude to Her Excellency the President Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Aroyo of the Philippines and her Government for their all out support accorded to the mission. A Joint Statement was issued by the GRP and the Mission where the two sides agreed that there is a need to review the implementation of the Peace Agreement and to hold a high level tripartite meeting for this purpose. The 33rd ICFM held in Baku in June 2006 welcomed the substance of the joint statement and called for an urgent high level tripartite meeting to be held in Jeddah to review the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement and make its assessment of the progress made and the difficulties facing its full implementation. Ladies and Gentlemen, Our discussion today thus will focus on assessment of the implementation process, defining the obstacles and devising the solutions. I must admit that it is a huge task that cannot be achieved in one or two sessions. So today we are launching a process with a road map that will certainly lead us to the right destination which is peace and prosperity to Mindanao and rest of the Republic of the Philippines. A process such as this will no doubt requires confidence building measures to bridge the gap between the two parties. You are all aware that the problems in the Southern Philippines are an accumulation of decades of conflict and war that created an atmosphere of mistrust and doubt between the Government and the inhabitants of the region. This was further compounded by difficulties facing the implementation of the peace agreement. That is why we should work sincerely to restore the confidence and the positive expectations to what it was during the days when the agreement was signed. I am confident that the legal process of the case against Prof. Nur Missuari, the MNLF chairman, allowing him to participate in the tripartite talks will greatly contribute to the restoration of confidence between the two parties. The confidence building measures are urgently needed- especially in Sulu Island- which has suffered too much and too long. I would like to seize this opportunity to express my thanks to Prof. Nur Missuari for his role in guiding the MNLF to participate in this tripartite meeting to move forward towards peace and stability for Bangsamore people. Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me take this opportunity to express my profound appreciation for the efforts exerted by the Members of the OIC Committee of 8 in following up and monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement. I would like to mention in particular the consistent engagement of the Great Socialist Republic of Libyan Jamahiriya in the peace process that resulted into conclusion of 1976 Tripoli Agreement, the base for the 1996 Agreement and to the Republic of Indonesia, the Chair of the Committee of 8 for its commitment towards bringing peace in the Southern Philippines and for its contribution in facilitating the negotiation process leading to the 1996 Agreement between the Government of the Philippines and MNLF. I am confident that the Committee of 8, which have gathered today in its expanded form with the inclusion of Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan as the Chair of the ICFM, along with the previous members namely Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Libya, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Somalia will continue to contribute effectively to advance the cause of peace. My sincere appreciation and thanks also goes to the Government of the Philippines and the MNLF, the two principal signatories to the agreement for their trust in the role of the OIC and their commitment to the path of negotiation and dialogue in resolving the issues of contention. I am convinced that their active participation in the tripartite meeting will pave the way towards bringing the desired peace to the implementation process as well as overcoming the obstacles which has impeded the peace process in one way or another during the last 11 years. I would like to end this part of my statement by this positive note. In spite of all the difficulties, the GRP and MNLF and indeed all of us, still believe in and adhere to that agreement. We have maintained this position because the agreement which was successfully brokered by the OIC is considered to be significant a milestone in the path of the OIC’s relentless drive towards maintaining peace and stability in the world. The Agreement has been internationally acclaimed as an effective tool to help bringing permanent peace in the region of Mindanao under the sovereignty of the Philippines. Today’s meeting, therefore, is an outcome of the combination of the concerns expressed by the ICFM, the finding of the OIC mission to the Philippines and the request received by the OIC from the principal parties to the agreement, which is no doubt a reflection of their commitment towards ultimate peace. Ladies and Gentlemen, Peace will not become a reality for the local people unless the process is accompanied by economic and infrastructural development, reconstruction, correction of injustice, proper settlement of the displaced population and ensuring equitable and just distribution of facilities for all. Excellencies Once again, allow me to reiterate here that we should continue collectively to exert our utmost efforts to achieve the aspired goals. I wish your deliberations every success, and I pray to God that this process that we are launching today will bring peace, stability and prosperity to the present and future generations of Southern Philippines
