UN chief likely to address Myanmar's Panglong conference

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will probably address Myanmar's upcoming 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference, sources quoted Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) Secretary, Sai Kyaw Nyunt, as saying on Tuesday.

According to the sources, all international organisations assisting Myanmar's peace process, UN agencies and foreign diplomats in Myanmar will be invited to the conference scheduled for August 31, which is expected to attract over 1,800 attendees.

The review of the political dialogue framework will be held after the conference, Xinhau news agency quoted Khu Oo Reh from the Delegation for Political Negotiation of the United Nationalities Federal Council ((UNFC) as saying on Monday.

UNFC represents the non-signatory armed groups to the nationwide cease fire accord (NCA).

According to earlier reports, the DPN has raised an eight-point proposal to the government for finding ways to sign the NCA and join the 21st Century Panglong Conference.

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also chairperson of the UPDJC made up of government representatives, ethnic armed groups and political parties, called for mutual trust and unity to successfully hold the conference.

The former Myanmar government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15 signed the NCA in October last year, while seven other armed groups are yet to sign the accord.

--IANS

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