RP to push for OIC observer status

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has invited the Philippines to the 32nd Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) in Yemen this month where the government will push its bid for observer status in the union of 56 Muslim countries.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo will represent the country as guest in the ICFM from June 28-30 in Yemen’s capital Sana’a.

Romulo expressed optimism that this time, the Islamic union will consider the Philippine government’s application for observer status in the OIC.

"I am hoping they’ll consider our application as an observer because I think they want us to represent a sizable number of Muslims in the country. I am always optimistic," Romulo said.

The Philippines’ application was never included in the OIC agenda for discussion since being filed in 2003.

But Romulo said the government will keep on pursuing the country’s observer status bid until it is approved by the OIC.

"That will be taken up but ultimately they will decide on that in their meeting in Saudi Arabia sometime in November this year in the summit. In the meantime, we have to keep on pursuing. We keep on

following that," he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Russia is also applying for observer status. Observers’ seats were recently given to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cote d’Ivore, Central Africa and Thailand.

"I am looking forward to this and I hope that in Sana’a we will come one step closer to our quest," he said.

The OIC’s approval of observer status for the Philippines means sharing the seat with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which has been holding observer status in the OIC for three decades.

The MNLF is the only group recognized by the OIC as the sole legitimate representative of Muslims in Mindanao.

However, the OIC Charter provides that only countries with majority Muslim population may be granted observer status in the Islamic union.

Diplomats from OIC-member countries believe that the Philippines’ application is not being acted upon because of the government’s failure to comply fully with the 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF.

Some member-countries may be "dissatisfied" with the slowness of the economic rehabilitation in Southern Philippines despite financial aid from the OIC and other countries.

Interfaith Initiative

Meanwhile, Romulo leaves today for Qatar, where he will attend a summit before proceeding to New York to chair the Philippine-led initiative on interfaith dialogue.

Once in New York, Romulo will chair the Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace on June 22 together with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.

The interfaith dialogue conference is an initiative spearheaded by the Philippines and launched with the support of several countries — many of which are members of the OIC.

Romulo said the conference aims to enhance interfaith cooperation among governments, civil society and the UN system. It includes the promotion of the culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations and the translation of shared values into action to achieve sustainable peace.

Romulo said that the Philippine initiative gives importance to the role of religion in the quest for world peace. He said this initiative has gained ground with more countries, faith-based organizations and UN agencies, which have been supportive of efforts to promote interfaith dialogue.

In a report to President Arroyo, Romulo said the Philippine initiative in New York next week was received enthusiastically by those at the launch.

It will be recalled that the President is an advocate of interfaith dialogue as a means by which to build national and international peace.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has given his full support to the Philippine-led interfaith initiative and plans to hold a tripartite conference for interfaith cooperation for peace next week.

Annan gave his assurance that the UN is fully behind the Philippines’ initiative during the launching of the tripartite conference initiative at UN headquarters in New York led by Romulo.

The interfaith cooperation dialogue will see the participation of representatives from 12 countries, including Indonesia and Pakistan, as well as interfaith advocacy-based agencies and UN agencies present at the launch of the initiative.

Other countries that will join the conference are: Iran, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Morocco, Argentina and the United States.

These participants to the conference also support the conduct of informal, high-level meetings on interfaith cooperation on the sidelines of the Leaders’ Summit of the 60th UN General Assembly in September.

Annan also expressed optimism over the outcome of the Philippine peace process and pledged to continue to provide technical support in the drafting of an anti-terrorism bill by the Philippines.

Romulo thanked Annan for sending a technical team to the Philippines to assist Congress in drafting the counter-terrorism law.

Reaffirming Support For Peace Effort

In a related development, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has reaffirmed its continued support for the Philippines’ peace efforts in Mindanao.

Ambassador Richard Solomon, president of the USIP, reiterated its support for the peace process in Southern Philippines during Romulo’s official visit to Washington last month.

Romulo briefed the USIP officials on the developments relating to the peace process as well as the international support the Philippines is getting in its quest for peace.

The Secretary told officials of the US think tank with expertise in conflict resolution and post-conflict management that the Philippines is receiving direct support from Malaysia, which is bringing the parties together and which is heading the international monitoring team (IMT) in Mindanao.

Romulo also told the USIP officials that the Philippines had the support of other OIC member countries Brunei, Bahrain and Libya, also members of the IMT.

The country, according to Romulo, is also being endorsed by donor countries providing development assistance to conflict and post-conflict areas and the support of organizations like the US Institute of Peace that is involved in several peace processes around the world to bring experience, advice and resources that could help the peace process succeed.

The US Institute for Peace supports the development, transmission and use of knowledge to promote peace and curb violent international conflict.

The Secretary earlier said that peace talks between the government and the MILF would not move forward unless the issue of ancestral domain is resolved by both sides.

He noted that many of the differences between the government panel and the MILF have been narrowed, but the unresolved territorial dispute continues to hamper the peace process.

In a meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar in Putrajaya, Malaysia last March, Romulo assured his counterpart that the peace process with the rebels is on track.

Albar assured Romulo that Malaysia and the 57-member OIC would continue to support the peace efforts of the Philippines and the MILF.

The OIC, the world’s largest Islamic union, was instrumental in the forging of the 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF, a former Muslim rebel group.