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Philippines

OIC renews support to Mindanao peace process

MANILA, April 19 -- Iyad Bin Amin Madani, the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) led an eight-man delegation for a four-day visit to the Philippines to reaffirm its long support to the Mindanao peace process, the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said in a statement.

On Friday, April 17, Madani met with Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process on the ongoing peace processes with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front, respectively.

Deles said the visit of Madani shows OIC’s firm commitment to help in the current peace efforts in Mindanao.

“OIC has contributed so much to the peace process since the Tripoli accord and now more than ever, Filipinos both Muslims and Christians look to you for guidance and support to open a new era of social peace and progress in Mindanao,” she told Madani during the meeting.

Madani expressed the OIC’s full support and commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process. He said their mission is to boost their role in the peace process, saying that the OIC has long been involved in the effort to address the conflict in Mindanao and secure the welfare of Muslims in the country.

Prior to his arrival here on Thursday, Madani had a three-day visit in Malaysia where he met Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak. The OIC said the two sides “discussed the status of the peace agreement on the Southern Philippines.

The Secretary General stressed the need for all parties to remain committed to the peace agreement."

Malaysia, being a member of the OIC, has been facilitating the peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF which concluded in the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on March 27, 2014.

Madani also made courtesy calls to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, as well as to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr, who was joined by Representatives Rufus Rodriguez, Bai Sandra Sinsuat A. Sema, and Sitti Djalia Hataman. He also met with the Senate Peace, Unity and Reconciliation Committee Chair Senator Teofisto Guingona III.

Madani noted during these meetings the current legislative work on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

The OIC secretary general will also meet top leaders of the MNLF and MILF to strengthen the Bangsamoro Coordination Forum, which was created by the OIC to harmonize the two Moro fronts.

Together with Madani are Sayed El-Masry, OIC Special Envoy for Peace in the Southern Philippines; Maha Mostafa Akeel, director of the OIC Department of Information; Dr. Hassan Ahmad Abdein, Head of the OIC Department of Muslim Communities and Minorities; Saidu Dodo, Liaison Officer for OIC Special Envoy for PCSP; Mohammed Adoum, Personal Assistant to the OIC Sec-Gen; Mohammed Naghi, Protocol Officer; and Ahmad Madani.

Madani is expected to meet President Benigno S. Aquino III, and Senate President Franklin M. Drilon before flying back to Saudi Arabia on Monday.

The OIC is the second largest inter-governmental organization, next to the United ‎Nations, composed of 57 member-states spread over four continents. (OPAPP)