(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The government of the Philippines and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have signed a landmark peace pact to end their decades-long conflict by 2016.
The Phillipines' President Benigno Aquino and MILF chief Murad Ebrahim attended the signing ceremony at the presidential palace in the capital Manila on Monday to ink the “framework agreement.”
The deal will pave the way for the formation of a new autonomous region for the minority Muslims in the southern Philippines.
"Much work remains to be done in order to fully reap the fruits of this framework agreement. We have commitments to fulfill, people to lead, and dreams to achieve," the Filipino president said prior to the signing ceremony.
Aquino is set to order the formation of a 15-member commission to formulate new legislation for a local Muslim government in the south to be called Bangsamoro.
"Negotiated political settlement is the most civilized and practical way to solve the Moro problem," Murad Ebrahim said in his speech.
Under the 13-page document, the two sides agreed on major issues, including the extent of political power, revenues and territory granted for an autonomous Muslim region.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who facilitated the peace talks, foreign dignitaries and international aid agencies were also present at the ceremony.
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The Phillipines' President Benigno Aquino and MILF chief Murad Ebrahim attended the signing ceremony at the presidential palace in the capital Manila on Monday to ink the “framework agreement.”
The deal will pave the way for the formation of a new autonomous region for the minority Muslims in the southern Philippines.
"Much work remains to be done in order to fully reap the fruits of this framework agreement. We have commitments to fulfill, people to lead, and dreams to achieve," the Filipino president said prior to the signing ceremony.
Aquino is set to order the formation of a 15-member commission to formulate new legislation for a local Muslim government in the south to be called Bangsamoro.
"Negotiated political settlement is the most civilized and practical way to solve the Moro problem," Murad Ebrahim said in his speech.
Under the 13-page document, the two sides agreed on major issues, including the extent of political power, revenues and territory granted for an autonomous Muslim region.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who facilitated the peace talks, foreign dignitaries and international aid agencies were also present at the ceremony.
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