Gov’t effort to join OIC futile: MILF

THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) downplayed the effort of the Philippine government to seek an observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), saying the government’s chance is nil.

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator and concurrently its chief information officer, said the government’s application for the observer status has no chance of success as he revealed that the OIC has "virtually stopped admission of new observers."

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ. [1]

In a report by Luwaran.com, Iqbal, who had just attended the meeting of the Department of Minorities and Muslim Affairs of the OIC last April 18-19, said this is the reason the MILF is presently not pushing for its bid for observer status before the OIC.

He explained that the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has that status already in that organization.

However, he said the MILF will be given a more prominent importance in the coming years by the OIC, given its current peace talks with the Philippine government.

"I sensed that the MILF track of negotiation is already considered over by the OIC," Iqbal said.

Iqbal, who attended the OIC meeting in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, dismissed the government’s claim that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had gained Egypt’s support for the country's bid to join the OIC.

The same report quoted Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo as having said other OIC members would support the Philippines.

Iqbal said it is natural for hosts like Syria and Egypt not to offend their visitors by being positive in their statements. He said what the Philippines is asking from the OIC is something that is difficult to concede by any conscience-guided institutions like the OIC. (BOT)