OIC Chief welcomes MILF's response to Philippines decision to

Jeddah, July 27, SPA -- The Secretary General of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has
welcomed the decision of the Philippine government to put an end to
military operations in Southern Philippines as a prelude to the
resumption of peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF), which has responded positively to the decision by halting its
own military operations.

In a press statement issued here, Ihsanoglu expressed his hope that
negotiations between the two parties would resume from the point
where earlier peace efforts culminated in an effort to preserve and
build upon what has been achieved in this respect.

He called on both parties to deploy all necessary efforts in a bid
to realize security, peace, and development in Southern Philippines.

Ihsanoglu also underscored the OIC's readiness and willingness to
make all-out efforts to assist the two parties in moving forward
towards achieving peace.

It is worth recalling that the foreign ministers of the OIC Member
States expressed during their meeting held in May 2009 in Damascus,
Syria, their concern over the deterioration of the situation in
Southern Philippines due to military operations and called upon the
two parties to resume negotiations.

--SPA