MILF wait for Saudi response to resume talks

Manila: The Philippine government and a separatist Muslim group are waiting for Saudi Arabia to respond to a request to be part of an international group that will witness the resumption of peace talks in Malaysia on December 8, sources told Gulf News.

Only Saudi Arabia which was invited to be part of the International Contact Group (ICG) has not yet responded whether it is interested or not to join the ICG, Ambassador Rafael Seguis told Luwaran, the website of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The Philippine government and the MILF formally announced the formation of the ICG on December 2, after the states and international non-government organisations have accepted invitations to be part of it, said Seguis.

The ICG is now composed of the United Kingdom, Japan, and Turkey as member countries, and The Asia Foundation, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, the Conciliation Resources and the (Jakarta-based) Muhammadiyah as international non-governmental organisation (INGO) members, said Seguis and MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal

The final formation of the ICG is important to the resumption of the peace talks which will be held on December 8 and 9 in Kuala Lumpur, both chief negotiators explained in a joint statement.