Stalled peace talks between the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) will finally resume in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next week.

This after both heads of the GRP and MILF peace panels formally announced the establishment of the International Contact Group (ICG) that will pave the way for the formal resumption of the peace process.

In a joint statement, Ambassador Rafael Seguis, GRP peace panel chairman, and his MILF counterpart Mohagher Iqbal said the first organizational meeting of the ICG will be held in Manila today, December 4, with formal resumption of peace negotiations to be held in Kuala Lumpur from December 8 to 9.

“The chairmen of the GRP and MILF peace panels formally announce the establishment of the international contact group for the GRP-MILF peace process,” the statement said.

“The formation of the ICG finally clears the way for the formal resumption of the peace talks and the panels agreed to resume the conduct of peace negotiations on December 8-9 in Kuala Lumpur,” it added.

The ICG is initially composed of the United Kingdom, Japan and Turkey as member countries and the Asia Foundation, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, the Conciliation Resources and the Muhammahiyah as international non-governmental organization members.

The creation of the ICG is the second agreement among three confidence-building measures identified by the GRP and the MILF to resume the stalled peace talks.

The first agreement is the suspension of military operations (SOMO) by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which was reciprocated by the MILF through its suspension of military activities (SOMA), while the third is the Agreement on the Civilian Protection Component of the International Monitoring Team (ACPC-IMT) signed in Kuala Lumpur on October 27.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Anabelle Abaya welcomed the resumption of talks.

"The resumption of the peace talks is an expression of the triumph of determination over odds, a desire to renew trust. A clear signal to work trough the issues that separate us from mutual understanding, a commitment to peace," Abaya said in a separate statement.

Abaya also expressed hope that the peace talks will give more attention to security and the protection of the people.

"In the end, what we achieve will be a diligently studied agreement, carefully considering the voices of the people is far reaching and genuine dialogues with them that will accompany the talks," she said.

For his part, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okada expressed optimism that the two sides will soon reach a final agreement.

“The Government of Japan highly values the efforts made by both negotiating parties and the Government of Malaysia, who has served as facilitator, to reach this agreement. Japan strongly expects that the parties concerned will continue sincere discussions making use of peace process frameworks and reach the final agreement for peace in Mindanao at an early stage,” he said.

Peace and stability in Mindanao is among the “focus areas” of the Japanese government in the country aside from sustainable growth for job creation, support to the poor, and improvement of living environment.

“Japan recognizes that peace in Mindanao is indispensable for peace and prosperity in Asia. Japan has contributed to the reconstruction and development of Mindanao through the dispatch of development experts to the international monitoring team (IMT) socio-economic development aspect and intensive implementation of Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects in conflict-affected areas,” Okada said.

“Japan intends to continue supporting peace in Mindanao through such assistance and the ICG,” he added.

After about 40 years of armed conflict, the GRP and the MILF reached a ceasefire agreement in 2003, which was further developed through the activities of the IMT since 2004.

However, in August 2008, the peace process was stalled after a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) was issued by the Supreme Court. The SC ruled in October 2008 that the MOA-AD, which was aimed at expanding the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), was unconstitutional.