MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani of Saudi Arabia expressed hope that the peace process in Mindanao will continue.
Madani had a meeting with Philippine Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, as well as with officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), during which he expressed hope that the peace process would continue.
“We are optimistic, we are supportive,” Madani said after presiding over the Bangsamoro Coordination Forum (BCF) in Davao City.
The OIC chief arrived in the country on April 16 for a five-day visit that aims to show the OIC’s support for the peace process in Mindanao.
The BCF is an OIC-sponsored group formed to harmonize and settle the differences between the MILF and MNLF.
Before leaving the Philippines, Madani paid a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacañang.
Madani was accompanied by OIC Special Envoy for Peace in Southern Philippines Sayed Kassim El Masry, and OIC Department of Muslim Communities and Minorities head, Dr. Hassan Ahmad Abdein, during the courtesy call, held at 1 p.m. at the Palace’s Music Room.
Madani is the first OIC secretary general to visit Mindanao. The OIC, which has 57 Islamic countries as members, is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations. – BusinessNewsAsia.com