Myanmar roundtable summit discusses political issues

Myanmar's first five-party roundtable summit held in the Presidential Palace here Friday discussed some key political issues in the country, presidential spokesman U Ye Htut said at a press conference after the two-hour talks.

Attending the talks were 14 representatives of the government, parliament, political parties, the military and the Union Election Commission, Xinhua reported.

During the talks, President U Thein Sein called for continued implementation of democratic reform, national reconsolidation and political stability before the upcoming 2015 general elections.

Other issues covered in the discussions include striving for the signing of a nationwide ceasefire agreement by the end of 2014 or early 2015 and holding political dialogues.

The participants agreed to carry out constitution amendment in the parliament in accordance with the law.

Aung San Suu Kyi, as a representative of political parties, put forward her personal views on home affairs, said U Ye Htut without disclosing further details.

There would be more such summits in the future, U Ye Htut added.

The five-party roundtable summit talks was held at the invitation of the president, who along with two vice presidents, represented the government side.

The parliament was represented by Speakers of the two Houses, U Shwe Mann and U Khin Aung Myint, and the military was represented by Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services, Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing and Vice Defence Chief General Soe Win.

Representatives from political parties included Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy and U Htay Oo of the Union Solidarity and Development Party among others. The Union Election Commission was represented by U Tin Aye.