OIC RESTARTS TRIPARTITE PEACE TALKS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Manila, 22 Dzulqa’dah 1436/7 September 2015 (MINA) –   Ambassador Sayyid Kasem El-Masry, the special envoy of the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Peace in the Southern Philippines, arrived Sunday,(09/6)  in Manila to restart the Tripartite Peace Talks in the country.

He began separate informal consultations with the delegations of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the representative of the government of the Philippines (GPH), followed by an informal Tripartite Meeting comprising the three sides.

During the consultations, the three sides agreed on a draft agenda including a briefing by government representatives regarding the current situation on the autonomy bill and a discussion on pending issues, including the convergence of previous agreements with the autonomy law, International Islamic News Agency (IINA) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Formal meetings, which are expected to continue for two days, will commence on Monday in Manila.

It is to be noted that the representation of the MNLF to the Tripartite Process was determined by the Jeddah formula, and in this regard the only official spokesperson recognized by the OIC and the MNLF is Attorney Randolph Parcasio.

It should be recalled that the Tripartite Process was interrupted after the signing of

the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB), and the restarting of the process had required intensive good offices on the part of the OIC with all sides concerned.

This initiative follows on from the visit of OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani to the Philippines in April, where he called upon all parties to redouble their efforts in order to reach a consensus on the convergence between the two peace tracks.

Following the Secretary General’s appeal, extensive consultations were held by the OIC on the sidelines of the 42nd Conference of Foreign Ministers held in May in Kuwait, where an agreement was reached among all the parties to reactivate the Tripartite Review Process with the aim of producing a road map to the successful conclusion of the peace track.

This preparatory meeting is expected to submit a report containing recommendations to a meeting at the ministerial level to be held in the OIC headquarters in November. (T/Imt/R03)

 Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)