ILOILO CITY, Philippines, February 22 (IslamOnline.net) - The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) stressed it was not interest in taking over the role of the peace-broker in parlays between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"The U.S. Institute of Peace has no interest in being a peace-broker in place of the government of Malaysia in the peace talks," G. Eugene Martin, Executive Director of USIPs Philippine Facilitation Project, said in an email sent to IslamOnline.net.

The statements came few days after Philippine Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said that the Americans were ready to takeover Malaysia’s role anytime.

"Malaysia is taking the lead as the mediator while the Institute has been asked to serve as a facilitator in support of Malaysian efforts," Martin said.

He asserted that the USIP "can be helpful by working on the periphery of the peace talks to provide a balanced, outside perspective on the complex issues under negotiation."

The USIP official said the body "can draw upon its experiences in other conflicts as well as its knowledge on varied approaches to long standing differences to make suggestions on how difficult issues [in the MILF-Manila peace talks] might be resolved."

He, meanwhile, underlined that "if a viable, equitable peace agreement is reached between the two parties, the Institute is prepared to recommend to the U.S. government that financial resources be devoted to helping implement the agreement."

Martin ruled out any "hidden agenda" for the USIP -- an independent nonpartisan federal institution created and funded by Congress - or the U.S. administration in trying to extend help in the peace process.

"Our common interests are to help the two parties settle their long standing conflict in Mindanao in a fair, just manner which will address the underlying causes of the conflict and benefit all peoples of the Philippines.

"Continued poverty, injustice and conflict in the southern Philippines only foster terrorism and instability," he said.

Martin added that the USIP "shares Senator Pimentel's desire that the peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF proceed to a successful conclusion at the earliest possible date."

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said they welcome the United States, or any other party, to help them and the Philippine government peacefully end the decades-old conflict aimed at reclaiming the land of the Filipino Muslims.

"We welcome the United States, the United Nations and any other state that might want to help us find a lasting and peaceful solution to the Mindanao problem," he told IslamOnline.net.

On February 17, Pimentel proposed, in statements to IslamOnline.net, that the USIP should become the peace-broker in Mindanao in lieu of the Malaysian government.

He argued that peace talks in Kuala Lumpur have been delayed several times since last year because either the Malaysian government was not ready or the Philippine government and the MILF have not wrapped up preliminary work.

Pimentel said hiatus in peace negotiations is a cause of utmost concern for the people of Mindanao, citing fears that the ceasefire may not hold with mounting tension between government troops and MILF forces.

"This is a matter of crucial concern for the people of Mindanao because the peace talks must continue for the sake of our people. The more the peace talks are put on hold, the greater the possibility of violence rearing its ugly head," he added.

"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.