Jeddah, July 27, SPA -- The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has welcomed the decision of the Philippine government to put an end to military operations in Southern Philippines as a prelude to the resumption of peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has responded positively to the decision by halting its own military operations. In a press statement issued here, Ihsanoglu expressed his hope that negotiations between the two parties would resume from the point where earlier peace efforts culminated in an effort to preserve and build upon what has been achieved in this respect. He called on both parties to deploy all necessary efforts in a bid to realize security, peace, and development in Southern Philippines. Ihsanoglu also underscored the OIC's readiness and willingness to make all-out efforts to assist the two parties in moving forward towards achieving peace. It is worth recalling that the foreign ministers of the OIC Member States expressed during their meeting held in May 2009 in Damascus, Syria, their concern over the deterioration of the situation in Southern Philippines due to military operations and called upon the two parties to resume negotiations.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/687834