Manila, Sep 13 (Xinhua) Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday said the government is close to signing a peace agreement with the anti-government Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Arroyo expressed optimism in a speech that the issue of ancestral domain, a major point of contention in the peace negotiations with the MILF, may soon be resolved, paving the way for a formal peace agreement, Philippine GMA TV reported.
“We are close to a peace agreement with the MILF. I remain optimistic we can overcome the final barriers on ancestral domain so that we can bring finality to the peace,” Arroyo said.
“However, we have achieved a great deal. The region is vastly improved in terms of safety, security and economic growth. So the current agreements are making things better; it will really take off if we achieve lasting peace and the millions of foreign aid promised comes pouring in,” she added.
Earlier this month, President Arroyo said the government is ready to go back to the negotiating table with the MILF, even as a rebel official expressed doubts that a peace agreement will be reached during Arroyo’s term.
During the Asia Pacific Economic Forum meeting in Australia, Arroyo and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi agreed to resume the peace negotiations, although no final date has been set for the talks.
Malaysia, which extended its peace monitoring mission in the southern Philippines, has been brokering formal peace talks which aim to end a decades-long Muslim secessionist problem in Mindanao, southern Philippines.
Talks stalled last year over disagreements on the issue of ancestral domain, particularly the size of the southern region that would fall under Muslim control. Tension further escalated in July following the clash between government troops and MILF rebels in the country’s southern province of Basilan that resulted in the killing of 14 Marines.