New York

25 January 2014

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the Philippines

The Secretary-General welcomes the signing today of the last of the four Annexes to the “Government of the Philippines-Moro Islamic Liberation Front Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro” of 2012.  He congratulates the negotiating teams of the Government of the Philippines and the MILF for their perseverance, courage and commitment in having reached this important milestone in the peace process.

The Secretary-General commends the President of the Philippines and the MILF chairman for their vision and leadership throughout this historic peace process.  He expresses his sincere gratitude to the national and international actors, in particular the Government of Malaysia, for their important role in the success of the negotiations.

The completion of the formal negotiations paves the way for the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.  The Secretary-General expresses the readiness of the United Nations to accompany the final phase of the peace process and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, as the parties may find appropriate.