MALAYSIA APPRECIATES DECISION TO KEEP PLAY ROLE IN GRP-MILF PEACE PROCESS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Thursday expressed gratitude
and appreciation over the decision for Malaysia to play a role in the peace
process
between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF).

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said Malaysia would seriously consider the
request for the country to continue as a facilitator in the peace process.

Anifah conveyed this to Philippines' Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process, Teresita Quinto-Deles, who is on a two-day visit to Malaysia beginning
Thursday, when the latter called on Anifah here.

According to a Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry) statement, Anifah and Teresita
also discussed about the resumption of GRP-MILF peace talks, scheduled to be
held in mid-September, during their meeting.

Teresita, according to the statement, had also informed Anifah about the
Philippine's decision to retain Malaysia as the third party facilitator in the
peace process during the meeting.

Malaysia has been the third-party facilitator in the GRP-MILF peace talks
since 2001 and has also since 2004 led the International Monitoring Team (IMT)
in Mindanao.

As the Philippines closest Asean neighbour, Malaysia is playing a
constructive and positive role to encourage a peaceful resolution in the
GRP-MILF peace talks.
-- BERNAMA