By EDD K. USMAN
Several ambassadors from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) posted in Manila will visit the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) today, Sept. 25, as a pre-Ramadan fraternal gesture.
The visitors will be hosted by ARMM Gov. Parouk S. Hussin.
Hussin will tender a three-hour luncheon dialogue with the ambassadors and charge d’affaires, which will be attended by Muslim political, traditional, religious, professional and women leaders.
The trip follows closely the visit to the ARMM by ambassadors from European Union (EU) member-states.
"The OIC ambassadors’ visit is a very significant development in the life of our people and the regional government, who look up to their brothers and sisters from the OIC," Hussin said. "It will inspire our people to work harder for peace and development since they feel they are not abandoned by the OIC."
Meanwhile, the ARMM governor thanked Manila Bulletin Chairman Dr. Emilio T. Yap for his magnanimity and generosity as shown by his consistent humanitarian assistance to Muslims.
Hussin was at the Manila Bulletin offices on Thursday at the invitation of the Chairman for the turnover of a check for
R1 million for the Mindanao Peace and Development Fund.
"Dr. Emilio T. Yap had also provided assistance in the past for our people, particularly for the tens of thousands of Moro deportees from Sabah, Malaysia. We are profoundly grateful for the Chairman’s humanitarian acts," the Governor said.
As this developed, Hussin said the OIC envoys’ visit to the seat of the ARMM government, with the attendance of regional, provincial, and municipal officials of the region, would surely uplift the spirit of the residents, who would now have a chance to meet and talk with officials from OIC countries.
Hussin said the entire leadership of Muslim Mindanao would give the envoys a grand reception in Cotabato City, the seat of the ARMM government.
Libyan Ambassador Salem Adam said Thursday during the Saudi Arabian National Day celebration on Thursday evening that many OIC diplomats just assumed their posts in 2004. Thus the visit is a good opportunity to meet Muslim Filipino officials and the ARMM people.
"It is a visit before the coming of the Ramadan fasting month in the second week of October, the first for many OIC ambassadors," said Adam. "For some of us, it will be a good time to renew our ties with our brothers and sisters in the ARMM."
Hussin’s satellite office in Manila listed the invited OIC envoys as Ambassadors Adam, Mohammed E. al-Jowaid (United Arab Emirates), Tanju Sumer (Turkey), M. Munir-Uz-Zaman (Bangladesh), Maimunah Dato Elias (Brunei Darussalam), Iftikhar Hussain Kazmi (Pakistan), Saber Abder Mansour (Egypt), Ibrahim A. Al-Meghaiseeb (Qatar), Jalal Kalantari (Iran), Mohammad Ameen Wali (Saudi Arabia), and Charge d’ Affaires Alexander Laturiuw (Indonesia), Oyebola Kuku (Nigeria), Mahinder Singh (Malaysia), and Salah A. Al-Bannai (Kuwait).
Expected to attend are Governors Datu Andal S. Ampatuan (Maguindanao), Wahab M. Akbar (Basilan), Benjamin T. Loong (Sulu), Sadikul H. Sahali (Tawi-Tawi), and Aleem Basher Manalao (Lanao del Sur), Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin G. Sema, Marawi City Mayor Omar Ali as well as Reps. Bai Sendig Dilangalen, Simeon A. Datumanong, Hussin A. Amin, Munir M. Arbison, Anuar J. Abubakar, Gerry A. Salapuddin, Benasing O. Macarambon Jr. and Faysah Dumarpa.
