Dreams and Hopes for Peace

At the outset, allow me to thank the Asia Society, the United States Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, for organizing this seminar on peace in Mindanao.  Gatherings like this help foster a deeper understanding of our efforts to secure lasting peace in the southern Philippines.  Indeed, this seminar manifests the continuing support that the Philippines enjoys from the international community for this important endeavor.

And that support has meant that for the first time in many years, the people of Mindanao dare to once again dream and hope of peace. In 2002, in a Poblacion in Lamitan, Basilan, for the first time, a President of the Republic raised the Philippine flag to commemorate the 104th anniversary of our independence.  Before that, hardly anything was raised in Basilan; people dared not raise their hopes nor go to the fields to raise their crops.
Last year, the four factions of the Moro National Liberation Front finally agreed to unite. This year peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will be held, with a ceasefire monitored by third parties. Development cooperation holds the promise of growth and development for the years to come.

Winning Peace in All Fronts

The sad reality of violence and conflict in southern Philippines is being transformed into brighter hopes for peace, thanks to the contribution of the members of the international community. Basilan today is in peaceful reawakening.  The military training, advice and assistance given to us by the United States helped us break the back of the Abu Sayyaf. Today this terrorist group no longer holds sway over Basilan.  They have been reduced to a small band of stragglers, their leaders and followers being killed or captured.

With the help of Libya, the MNLF is far less divided and far more cooperative in living up to their obligations under our 1996 Peace Agreement.  An agreement forged with the help of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, particularly the Committee of the Eight, led by Indonesia. Our peace process is firmly on track with the MILF, thanks to the important role being played by Malaysia in bringing the parties together.  Malaysia has also agreed to monitor the ceasefire while we talk peace.  Several other members of the OIC have indicated their willingness to join the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team, whose advance team is on the ground. All sides have already approved the operating rules of the foreign monitors.  Progress has been made, because all parties to the conflict now understand that only through peace can we improve the lives and future of all Mindanao communities, whether, Christian, Muslim or Lumad.

Our other partners for peace, the US, the European Union and its members, Japan, Australia and others, as well as many international and local non-governmental organizations, have been laying down the foundations for growth and development in Mindanao.  Their pledges of continued support, particularly for a post-conflict Mindanao, increases the prospects for peace.  The United States Agency for International Development devotes two-thirds of its annual development cooperation budget for the Philippines to Mindanao.  The United States Institute of Peace is also involved in peace-building and has earned the trust of all stakeholders in the peace process.

Under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippines has persevered in the quest for a durable solution to the conflict in Mindanao.  President Arroyo has devoted her personal attention and committed significant resources to the attainment of this crucial goal. There are many fronts in our quest for peace in Mindanao.  We are determined to win the peace at every front.

Terrorism Shall not Stand in the Way

And while we are winning the peace, we continue to wage a determined war against terrorists. The Philippine Government will not allow terrorism to divert us from peace.  We will take all necessary steps to identify, isolate and neutralize any terrorists in the country.

Recognizing that terrorism, too, has an international dimension, the Philippines will maintain close counter-terror cooperation with countries, near and far, within ASEAN, and in the context of other regional and international organizations.

Shoring Up Support for Peace

While in New York, I met with several of my counterparts.  All the officials I met, many of whom are from OIC countries, were optimistic about peace in southern Philippines.  Not a few offered a helping hand.  I expect to meet a number of other foreign ministers and I am looking forward to their support for our peace process.

Furthermore, New York provides the opportunity to address other dimensions of the conflict.  For peace to last, we must look beyond diplomacy and political negotiation.  We need to encourage development and to improve education for the Muslim communities in Mindanao.

Here, again, the international community has played an important role.  Several of our foreign partners have an interest in development and educational programs for this purpose.  Consultations on the global economy and trade can affect the international environment, which, in turn, can have a profound impact on Mindanao’s growth prospects.

These concerns lie behind the focus of the Philippines in promoting closer cooperation, internationally and bilaterally, to alleviate poverty.  In the long run, poverty alleviation may be the single most effective strategy in overcoming conflict, not only in Mindanao, but in many other parts of the world.

Thank you.