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MILF oppose observers
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Citing Manila's cooperation with the Organization of the Islamic Conference which led to the signing of the 1996 peace pact with Moro National Liberation Front rebels in Mindanao, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda said Indonesia is backing the Philippines' bid for an observer status with the group.
In their plenary statements, Malaysia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates supported Indonesia's proposal, according to a statement of the Philippine Foreign Affairs. It said other countries which expressed strong support for the Philippine bid were Syria, the host and chairman of the 36th CFM; Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Morocco, Libya, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, Turkey, Uganda, Bangladesh and Brunei Darussalam. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Philippines' largest Muslim rebel group, earlier said that at least four countries have opposed Manila's bid for an Observer status in the 57-state organization. It said the OIC is not considering granting the Philippines an Observer status after Turkey objected to it. Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Iran have supported Turkey's decision, the MILF said. The MILF and the MNLF, which has a permanent observer status in the OIC, are strongly opposed to the Philippine bid. "The OIC decision is by consensus and all it takes is one state to oppose the Philippine bid for an observer status is enough to defeat a motion," said Mohagher Iqbal, a senior MILF leader. The government statement said the OIC decided during the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers that the criteria for the approval of new observers should be finalized first before the admittance of additional countries as Observers. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary and Philippine envoy to the OIC Rafael Seguis reported that the Philippines had the overwhelming support of OIC member states during the May 23-25 session. Seguis added that had the criteria for observers been adopted, the Philippines would have been granted the Observer seat during the 36th CFM. The Philippines applied for observer status in the OIC in 2003. However, it was only during the 36th CFM that its application was discussed by the Islamic organization for the first time, upon the initiative of supportive OIC member states. Manila said having an observer status in the OIC would help the government's peace process in Mindanao. Posted by: classer 2009-05-28 |
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