Prince Abdulaziz to attend signing of Moro peace deal - Arab News

Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah will attend the signing of a landmark peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which will be attended by 20,000 people and will include top officials from various countries, in Manila on Thursday, Abdullah Al-Hassan, Saudi ambassador to Manila, told Arab News.

The signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) will come after years of strife in the southern Philippines and after 17 years of negotiations.

The Muslim community in Manila has largely welcomed the pact, reflecting their staunch support for the accord. They will hold a musical festival during a three-day celebration.

In Manila, the new Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader, Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, son of the first Muslim senator, has publicly expressed his group’s support to the Bangsamoro pact.

The United Nations, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, the United States and other countries have expressed their support for the peace pact, while an international monitoring team composed of Brunei, Libya, Norway, Indonesia, the European Union, the World Bank and several other countries and institutions have also provided support during the course of this process.

Spain, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada and the Asia Development Bank (ADB) are expected to attend the ceremony in Manila.

“This is history in the making that peace-loving countries are eager to witness,” said Saleh Bucay, secretary-general of an umbrella association in Riyadh.

Sigrid GoldSmith, an overseas Filipino worker, sent her letter of support to Arab News from Australia.

“I believe in the principle that we cannot grow without peace,” she wrote. “We must establish long-lasting...stability in Mindanao. We have high hopes and trust in terms of improvements and cooperation from the indigenous tribe and Muslim and Christian residents for the implementation of different kinds of growth to

help our people get out of poverty.”

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