PGMA's Speech during the Luncheon with the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors

West Terrace, UN Delegation Bldg. New York, USA (26 Sept 2003)
Excellencies, distinguished foreign ministers and permanent presidents and representatives of the organization of the Islamic conference, members of the Philippine delegation, ladies and gentlemen:

I'm honored to share this occasion with valued friends from the OIC. This is the first time that the Philippine president has the honor to meet with a gathered leaders of the OIC. And I'm very thankful for that especially now that we meet at a critical time for peace in the world and for peace in my country.

The OIC is a treasured friend of the Philippines. We have benefited immensely from your support in the search for a lasting solution to the Mmindanao conflict. The untiring efforts of the OIC particularly the committee of the eight led by Indonesia has ensured that our 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF would take root and flourish.

Today we stand on the verge of completing the work for the committee of the eight, hopefully with the determination of the OIC that the Philippines has complied with its obligations in our 1996 peace agreement. The success of that peace agreement is a shining tribute to the dedicated efforts of the OIC and its commitment to peace.

Our 1996 peace agreement and its successful implementation by the Philippines is a major diplomatic achievement of the OIC and living proof that working together even the most difficult conflicts can be resolved.

Allow me therefore to take this opportunity to express my country's gratitude for the continued support and friendship of the OIC and your governments, but our work is far from over. Our policy for Mindanao stands on three fundamental principles:

The first is to ensure that peace and development in the region go hand and hand. To resolve the Mindanao issue, we would need to look out the causes of injustice and economic exclusion that had stymied our people from benefiting from the fruits of stability and progress. I wish to thank the OIC governments for the technical and material assistance you have extended to our policy alleviation efforts in the Southern Philippines.

Second principle for Mindanao is that we are committed to the principle that any peace and stability in Mindanao should preserve the country's territorial integrity under the Philippine constitution. We beg our OIC friends like Malaysia and Libya that when they talk with the MILF they always uphold these principles as they support the peace process.

The third principle of our policy is to pursue our nationhood with complete awareness that the Philippines as a cultural country is enriched by various cultural and ethnic groups that should be respected and given due recognition, which support the recognition and development of Muslim traditions in the Philippines including the putting up of Shariah courts including the declaration of Eid'l Fitr as a national holiday and many other such manifestations of respect for the Islamic traditions in our country.

To these three fundamental principles, we may add a fourth in response to contemporary challenges. We need to ensure that the terrorism perpetrated by a dwindling set of rogue groups would not obstruct our well laid plans to fight peace and stability in Mindanao.

I'm working with heads of neighboring OIC states to ensure continued cooperation in our battle to rid Southeast Asia of the threat of terrorism.

Today, with your support hostilities in Mindanao have abated. As we approach the final stages of preparation for formal peace talks. Malaysia is the prime mover in helping us negotiate peace with the MILF, the Muslim separatist group in the Southern Philippines. I hope one of the many legacies of Prime Minister Mahathir would be to bring peace to Mindanao.

We welcome the help of other OIC friends who would be willing to join the monitoring team for the monitoring of the ceasefire between the MILF and the Philippines. We also welcome the help that many of you have given in facilitating rehabilitation and development in conflict-affected areas. For instance, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain have been financially supporting the development in Southern Philippines. Much of what we have accomplished in Mindanao would not have been possible without the catalytic role that the OIC has played in the peace process. We hope that countries and friends like Bangladesh, Bahrain, Indonesia will be willing to be part of the monitoring team for our ceasefire.

The OIC has proven to be a significant actor in the Philippine peace process. But not only that, also a significant actor in the larger world stage. That is why we look forward to your support for our bid to become a non-member of the security council of the U.N. to begin the term of two years starting in 2004.

We are determined to uphold and promote the principle espoused by the oOIC in our tenure as a council member. We have to continue the proud legacy that Syria will leave behind as we take over the Asian seat.

We are convinced that our common interest and shared goals provide a firm foundation for a long lasting and meaningful partnership between the Philippines and OIC. And I would like to thank Prime Minister Mahathir for his invitation to me to attend the OIC conference next month in Malaysia. I hope to see many of you again there and I hope to use that time to again advance the peace process in Mindanao and advance the understanding between all faiths.

I will be at the OIC conference because i sincerely believe that we are bound together by a strong determination to fight suffering, oppression and injustice in the world today. To further our endeavors, we are seeking to be admitted as an observer state in the OIC. We seek this partnership motivated by our desire to contribute to the full realization of the OIC's objective of improving conditions of mankind through collective action.

We hope that your governments will support our intention to join your distinguished organization. We hope that when it comes to peace none of us are ever alone.

Thank you.

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