By Hader Glang
MANILA, Philippines
Turkey's prime minister arrived in the Philippines on Monday and pledged Turkey’s full support to a landmark peace process between the country's one-time largest rebel group and the goverment.
Ahmet Davutoglu promised to back the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, that aims to end a decades-old armed conflict while brigning greater autonomy to the Muslim-majority south, according to local broadcaster PTV News .
The report said the premier had added that senior Turkish diplomat Haydar Berk would continue to focus on the disarming of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), as agreed in the pact between the government and the Front - once the largest outfit fighting for greater autonomy in the southern Philippines.
Berk, a former permanent representative at NATO, has been appointed as chair of the Independent Decommissioning Body. The body comprises of foreign experts to assist in the disarmament process.
"I have instructed him [Berk] to stay in the Philippines and - if needed - don't come back to Turkey until you finish this job," Davutoglu said during a lunch hosted by President Benigno Aquino III, the GMA News website reported.
On March 27, the government and MILF inked a deal to bring to a close 17 years of negotiations and end conflict in the southern area of Mindanao -- the second largest and southernmost major island in the Philippines -- while granting Muslim areas greater political autonomy. It commits Aquino and MILF to pass a law creating the Bangsamoro Region -- which will supplant the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao once the law is passed and ratified -- before the 2016 presidential elections.
Davutoglu praised the Aquino government's "very wise, visionary approach to integrate all the country for the same objective of peace, stability and prosperity."
He added: "Turkey will always be at your side in this very important initiative. We are proud that you invited us to be part of this process.”
In return, Aquino said Turkey remains a partner in establishing lasting peace in Mindanao and added: "We look to the future with greater possibilities for our countrymen in Bangsamoro - a future characterized by peace, stability and equitable progress for Christians and indigenous brothers and Muslims in the region."
It was the first official visit to the archipelago by a Turkish premier and marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Following an inter-delegation meeting, Turkish and Philippines officials also signed a civil aviation cooperation agreement.
"Through the air services agreement, we aim to improve trade and tourism opportunities between us as the number of our respective citizens visiting both increases," said President Aquino, adding that the countries are also working on a memorandum of understanding regarding investments, tourism cooperation, marketing and cultural exchanges.
Aquino said they agreed to convene an inaugural meeting of a Philippines-Turkey joint economic commission in the Turkish capital of Ankara by next year "to outline the approaches necessary in realizing their shared objective."
"Our trade volume today is around $300 million. We need to reach the level of $1 billion as soon as possible," Davutoglu said, expressing enthusiasm in accelerating relations in critical sectors like tourism and trade.
In his concluding remarks, Davutoglu said Turkey has opened embassies in all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, bar Laos - where an embassy is planned.
It is the first official visit to the archipelago by a Turkish premier and marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
www.aa.com.tr/en
Anadolu Agency correspondent Feyza Susal contributed to this story from Ankara
