Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople yesterday expressed confidence that the formal peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front can be resumed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during next week.

“I expect the resumption of the talks to be announced in Malaysia,” the secretary said.

Ople, however, declined to disclose details, although he said “technical obstacles” to the resumption of the talks were going to be overcome.  These obstacles pertained to the subsisting warrants of arrests against ranking MILF officials in connection with a spate of bombings in Mindanao, and arrangements for a ceasefire on the ground.

The Secretary said he also expected the United States, through the Washington-based Institute for Peace, to be admitted as a facilitator but strictly in a supporting role to Malaysia, which is the principal mediator and host of the talks.

He said the US Congress has allocated $30 million by way of financial and diplomatic support to the peace process. END