MANILA, Philippines - A spokesman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Monday welcomed the Aquino administration's announcement to restart peace talks with their group after the holy month of Ramadan, which will start on the second week of August.

In an interview, MILF spokesman Mohagher Iqbal said he viewed as a positive development President Aquino's announcement that peace talks with the MILF will restart soon.

"It's quite definitive. He would resume the peace process, it will be after Ramadan and the chairman of the GRP panel has been appointed already," he said, referring to UP Law School dean and current GRP panel chairman Marvic Leonen.

He said the Aquino government has also recognized MILF efforts to impose disciple and rein in its own ranks.

He added, however, that the big question is whether Aquino could concretize his plan to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao.

In his first State of the Nation Address, President Aquino said he has never wavered from his views that lasting peace will only be achieved if all stakeholders -- Moro, Lumad or Christian -- will engage in honest dialogue.

"We will learn from the mistakes of the past administration, that suddenly announced an agreement reached without consultations from all concerned. We are not blind to the fact that it was done with political motivation, and that the interest behind it was not that of the people," he said.