The Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teofisto T. Guingona, Jr., the Foreign Minister of Indonesia H.E. Dr. Hassan Wirayuda and the Foreign Minister of Malaysia H.E. Syed Hamid Albar met today in Manila to discuss matters of common and vital interests.

A consensus was reached on the following points:

To recognize the progress made in the implementation of the 1996 GRP-MNLF final peace agreement and the need to sustain such progress for the good of the Muslims in southern Philippines;

The need to accept the realities on the ground, particularly the election of a new government in the ARMM headed by Dr. Parouk Hussin, Head of the MNLF Executive Council;

That the November 19 incident in Zamboanga City involving misguided MNLF members is inconsistent with the 1996 peace agreement;

The question of Professor Nur Misuari is an internal affair of the Philippines;

That Nur Misuari will soon be turned over by the Malaysian Government to Philippine authorities to face trial;

The Philippines recognizes the need to treat Nur Misuari with the humanitarian consideration he deserves as a signatory to the 1996 Peace Accord, even as he will be subjected to the judicial process;

The secession or independence is rejected as a solution to the problems of southern Philippines; and

A comprehensive solution must be pursued, including political, economic and social reforms, to resolve the grievances and aspirations of the Filipino Muslims.

This evening, the three Ministers met with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and presented their consensus points.

President Arroyo welcomed the consensus points and lauded the Ministers for their sense of common purpose as she thanked Prime Minister Dato Seri Dr. Mahathis Mohammad and President Megawati Soekarnoputri for their support towards peace and development in southern Philippines, and in the entire region.