Draft political dialogue framework approved in Myanmar

A tripartite committee on Tuesday approved a draft framework for holding a political dialogue between the Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups in the Southeast Asian nation.

The framework for political dialogue inclusive of all stakeholders was drafted by a special drafting committee of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC), Xinhua news agency reported.

The approval of the framework will be followed by the first round of formal dialogue by January 15, 2016 in accordance with the timeline of the term of Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) reached between the government and eight armed groups out of a total 15 on October 15 and approved by the Union Parliament on December 8.

The two sides were also set to draw up a political framework within 60 days after the formal NCA signing and start a political dialogue within 90 days.

The approved framework will be officially submitted to President U Thein Sein, said Union Peace-Making Work Committee's leader U Aung Min.

The first round of union peace conference will be held by U Thein Sein before January 15, 2016.

The UPDJC comprises more than a dozen representatives from the government, ethnic armed groups and political parties that include the election-winning National League for Democracy party, the current ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, Arakan National Party and Shan National League for Democracy, among others.