OIC pushes GRP, MILF to return to negotiating table

MANILA, Philippines - The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) on Wednesday voiced regret over the continued deterioration of the situation in Mindanao stemming from fighting between the government and Moro rebels.

In a resolution following its 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the OIC urged the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to return to the negotiating table at the soonest possible time.

“(OIC) expresses regrets that the plan of signing the already initialized Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in Malaysia on 5 August 2008, did not materialize," the resolution said.

Although the OIC noted the “constitutional constrain" that prevented the Philippine government from signing the MOA-AD, it also expressed concern with the deterioration of the situation following it.

“(The OIC) calls on both parties to resume negotiation and to build on previous achievement," it said.

The government and the OIC were to sign a MOA-AD last Aug. 5 but the Supreme Court thumbed it down after local officials in areas affected by the MOA-AD questioned it. - GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/163159/OIC-pushes-GRP-MILF-to-return-to-negotiating-table