12 December 2003, Tokyo – Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi today reiterated to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the commitment of the Malaysian Government to do all it can to help the Philippines bring peace and development to the Southern Philippines, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople.  President Arroyo and Prime Minister Badawi held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo.

“This was a meeting between two leaders who sincerely wish for and are dedicated to peace.  Prime Minister Badawi reiterated in clear and categorical terms his official and even personal commitment to play a significant role in our search for peace.  He firmly committed to the success of our peace process with the MILF.  He also formally conveyed to the President the decision of Malaysia to send its advance team next week,” the Secretary said.

Secretary Ople explained that this advance team will lay the groundwork for the sending of the international monitoring team “that will be a key element in maintaining our ceasefire with the MILF while we engage in formal peace talks.  The stage has been set and we are now one step closer to lasting and meaningful peace in Mindanao.” During the meeting, President Arroyo briefed Prime Minister Badawi on the preparations on the ground for the sending of the advance and monitoring team, as well as the preparations for the formal peace talks.  The President also introduced Secretary Teresita Deles, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, to Prime Minister Badawi.

“This is the first meeting between the President and Prime Minister Badawi in his new job as Prime Minister.  Prime Minister Badawi is an old friend of the Philippines and I personally credit the Prime Minister as being one of the prime movers behind the reinvigoration of our relations with Malaysia,” Secretary Ople said.  In 1993, the Philippines and Malaysia agreed to no longer allow certain differences from preventing both countries to build a close and strong relationship.

During the bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Badawi also recalled that his friendship with Secretary Ople started over thirty years ago when both officials were deeply involved in international youth and labor issues. “We have a tried and true friend of the Philippines in Prime Minister Badawi,” Secretary Ople said. END.