PRESS RELEASE
Department of Foreign Affairs
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No. 287-03;  09 June 2003

SUPPORT FOR RP OIC OBSERVER STATUS GROWING – OPLE

A few days after arriving from Tehran where he attended the 30th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today said that the preliminary response of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has been encouraging. Secretary Ople received an unprecedented invitation to attend the OIC Ministerial Meeting and formally filed the Philippine application for OIC Observer Status with the OIC during the Conference.

“I have received several reports from our embassies in the OIC member countries.  Our ambassadors in OIC countries tell us that their hosts have welcomed our Observer application and that many have expressed their full support,” Secretary Ople said.

“There is recognition in the OIC that the Philippines is sincere in its implementation of its peace agreement with the MNLF.  There is also recognition that the GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement is an important diplomatic and political triumph for the OIC, given that many other peace processes around the world remain unresolved,” the Secretary said.

When asked by reporters on possible problems the Philippines might encounter, the Secretary said that a few OIC members have requested clarification as to what will happen to the MNLF which is currently accredited to the OIC as Observer, since the rules of the OIC prohibit more than one representative per country.

“The MNLF will not lose its identity should the Philippines become an observer in the OIC.  The MNLF will be a large and significant part of the Philippine representation in the OIC.  But more importantly, this issue was raised by a few OIC members not as a political issue, but more of a technical and procedural matter,” Secretary Ople said.

“These initial encouraging reports are a result of the determined campaign being conducted by our ambassadors in the OIC countries.  They are doing an excellent job of pursuing our interests,” the Secretary said.  He added that the bilateral meetings he had in Tehran with key OIC members also contributed to this campaign, particularly since he was accompanied by MNLF Chair and ARMM Governor Parouk Hussin in most of his meetings. END.