November 2, 2012. News:The Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomed the breakthrough in the 16-year peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that culminated in the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in Manila last October 15.

The Iranian government spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes peace talks of the Philippine Muslim community with the government.

Mehmanparast said the two sides’ efforts to reach agreement on peace accord after lengthy talks are of high importance.

He hoped that continued constructive and effective talks would speedily lead to a final agreement aiming to meet demands and wishes of the two sides for peace, stability and economic development of Mindanao.

Iran is the latest of states which congratulated the MILF and the GPH for their success in the talks that started in January 1997.

Other states which earlier congratulated the two parties were the United States, The United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeliddin Ihsanoglu, and the European Union also congratulated the two parties for their success in the talks.

The number of domestic and international non-government organizations which extended felicitations to the MILF alone reached hundreds including Catholic priests and protestant pastors.

The 210-member delegation of the MILF to the signing ceremony included a Catholic nun, Christian civil society organizations, as well as members of the indigenous peoples in Mindanao.

All were billeted at Sofitel Hotel and Traders’ Hotel in Roxas Boulevard.