Formal peace talks are likely to resume soon: DG Zaw Htay

Formal peace talks are likely to resume soon: DG Zaw Htay
An informal meeting between the NRPC and the KNU.
An informal meeting between the NRPC and the KNU.
Published 8 September 2019

 

Formal peace talks are likely to resume soon, said Zaw Htay, Director-General of the Office of Myanmar State Counsellor, at the joint press conference after an informal meeting between the government’s National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) and the Karen National Unity (KNU) yesterday.

The NRPC and the KNU held an informal meeting at the Office of the NRPC in Yangon on September 7.

“The informal meeting mainly focused on the detailed paths towards the peace process and both sides’ desires. It produced positive results,” he added.

One September 10 and 11, the  NRPC will hold a meeting with ten NCA signatories at the NRPC Office in Yangon. After that meeting, there will be some meetings between the NRPC and the KNU. After that, formal peace dialogues are likely to resume,” he continued.

There is no formal meeting on the peace process since the separate meeting between the government, Tatmadaw and the NCA signatories held in October, 2018.

Zaw Htay said: “The main point is Chapter-3 and Chapter-4 of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and Chapter-6 (Interim Period).

In his opening speech at the informal meeting, Phado Saw Kwel Htoo Win, Vice-Chair of the KNU said: “There are two major agreements in the NCA signed by the government and the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs)—strengthening ceasefire and holding the political dialogue. I believe that the NCA is the one which can bring peace, national reconciliation and development to Myanmar. I believe that in implementing the NCA, strengthening the ceasefire would contribute to the success of political dialogues. The KNU temporarily suspended its participation in the official meetings, aiming to further strengthen the peace process through the agreement.”