Manila - The Philippines will revive its bid for an observer
seat in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) six years after
its application was rejected by the 57-nation group, a senior
official said Tuesday.
Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said the government would
make another pitch during an OIC foreign ministers' meeting in
Damascus, Syria in May.
'We are working against all possible odds, but we will apply again
for an observer status in the OIC. We'll see what will happen,'
Seguis said.
Seguis, who is also chief government negotiator with Muslim
separatist rebels in the southern Philippines, said Foreign Secretary
Alberto Romulo has been invited by Syria to attend the 36th Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting.
He said the Philippines decided to apply anew for an observer seat
after the OIC finalized its policy on the acceptance of new observers
to the 57-member Islamic union.
'While there are no formal set of rules yet, we will still pursue
our bid,' Seguis said. 'The Philippine government is in a better
position to represent the entire Muslim community.'
The Philippines' bid has been thumbed down three times in the past
by the OIC, citing lack of rules for accepting observers to the
organization. The last time the government applied for an observer
seat was in 2003.
Currently, the OIC only recognizes the Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF), which signed a peace agreement with the Philippine
government in 1996, as the sole legitimate representative of Filipino
Muslims.
In applying for observer status, Seguis clarified the government
did not intend to dislodge the MNLF from its post.
'The Philippines is a state applying for an observer seat,' he
said. 'The MNLF is a non-government organization. We never asked (the
OIC) to drop from their post to give way to the government.'
The OIC facilitated peace negotiations between the Philippine
government and the MNLF. It has also supported peace talks with the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has continued the MNLF's
secessionist struggle.
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