ILOILO CITY, Philippines, February 21 (IslamOnline.net) - The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) announced on Saturday, February 21, they would resume formal negotiations for a peaceful and lasting solution to the Mindanao problem in April.

"The two-day 5th round of GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks ended in Kuala Lumpur today with both sides agreeing to resume formal peace talks towards the end of April 2004, as facilitated by the Malaysian Government," read a joint statement by the leaders of the two negotiating teams.

They also announced resolving "all outstanding issues standing in the way of the formal talks and expressed confidence that the prospects for lasting peace were firm."

Meanwhile, the MILF and government panels commended the work of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) to stabilize the situation on the ground and nurture the climate for peace.

A joint statement, a copy of which was received by IslamOnline.net, said the "panels agreed to consolidate their respective proposed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the International Monitoring Team (IMT), and requested the Malaysian Government to send the advance survey team of the IMT in Southern Philippines soonest possible.

"Both panels agreed for the Malaysian Government to finalize the TOR in consultation with the panels and undertake the task of setting up the IMT in Southern Philippines."

The two sides agreed on "the mechanism to extend capacity-building programs for the people in conflict-affected areas through the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), the development arm of the MILF."

The joint statement underlined that to "assist in the rehabilitation and development of conflict-affected areas, the Malaysian Government has committed a similar program for the BDA under its Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program (MTCP)."

Both parties further disclosed that they would work closely with the World Bank and the donor community in implementing the joint needs assessment phase of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund intended for the rehabilitation and development of the conflict-affected areas.

They vocalized their gratitude to Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and President Gloria Arroyo "for their unstinting support to the Mindanao peace process, which largely contributed to this breakthrough."

The Philippine government delegation was composed of panel chair Sec. Silvestre Afable, Jr., Lt. General Rodolfo Garcia, Diosita Andot and Ryan Mark Sullivan.

The MILF delegation was led by panel chair Mohagher Iqbal and joined by Attorney Lanang Ali, Attorney Michael Mastura, Mr. Robert Maulana Alonto, Mike Pasigan and Mohajirin Ali.

In announcing the resumption of formal talks, President Arroyo said "the level of violence has been reduced to almost nil and international confidence is high."

The announcement came in the wake of growing impatience of various stakeholders in Mindanao and a call by several quarters for the parties to speed up the preliminary negotiations.

"There is public impatience for the resumption of negotiations even if only exploratory, since the last round of exploratory talks was held last September 2003 in Kuala Lumpur," said the Mindanao Peaceweavers in letter to the MILF and the government.