COTABATO CITY – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) vice chairman for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar Saturday confirmed the receipt of a letter from the United States (US) government, which he said is a “welcome development.”

Other than pointing to the statement of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urging the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and MILF to strike a quick peace deal, Jaafar begged to not speak on the contents of the US government’s letter.

He was referring to Clinton’s visit at the University of Santo Tomas on Saturday, where she said the time is ripe for Manila to forge a peace deal with the Moro separatists.

“What I have often found is that it is easier to make the difficult decisions when you are on the way out of office. Because you know what is at stake and you are willing to brave the political fires,” Clinton told a huge crowd at the oldest university in Asia.

“So strike while the iron is hot, when people are in the mood and willing to make peace. Do not sleep, do not rest until we finally get there,” she added.

“We are bound by protocol and respect not to reveal the contents of the letter. We welcome this gesture from the United States government,” the MILF leader said, pointing out that it was not President Barack Obama who signed the letter.

On the MILF Web site, it was revealed that US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell signed the letter on behalf of Obama that is addressed to MILF Chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim.

The MILF leader also inquired with Obama on the “status of the United States’ policy regarding the MILF and the Moro question, whether there is a change of policy or the Obama’s presidency upheld the policy statement contained in the letter of President George Bush to the late MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim in 2003.

A four-man group of US officials led Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel that included US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie A. Basset, Michael E. Pignatello, US Embassy second secretary, Political Division, and another unnamed officials handed the letter to the MILF during a clandestine meeting in Makati City on November 6.