Myint Thu, Myanmar ambassador to Japan, expressed thanks for Japan’s stance of voting on the draft resolution on “Situation of Human Rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar” tabled by the European Union (EU) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on 26 September 2019 at the 42nd Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, during his meeting with Mr. Wakamiya Kenji, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at the latter’s office on September 30.

The draft resolution tabled by the EU and the OIC was put to a vote at the 47-member Human Rights Council held in Geneva where seven countries including Japan did not support the resolution and abstained in the voting.

At the session of the United Nation Human Rights Council, the representative of Japan felt disappointed at the insufficient time for scrutinizing the draft resolution. Transparency is needed in the draft resolution. Japan’s recommendations have not been found in the draft resolution. Therefore, Japan did not support the draft resolution and abstained in the voting, according to the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 27.

China and the Philippines voted against the resolution in support of Myanmar. The other 7 countries - Angola, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Japan, Nepal and Ukraine – did not support the resolution and abstained in the voting.

Mr. Wakamiya Kenji and Myint Thu discussed Japan’s continued cooperation in Myanmar’s democratic transition and development tasks, increased investment of Japan in Myanmar, boost to Japan’s investment in Thilawa Special Economic Zone, and mutual friendship and understanding.   

Translated and Edited by Win Htut