UN chief likely to address Myanmar's Panglong conference

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

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

The review of the political dialogue framework is set to be held after the conference, said Khu Oo Reh from the Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) of the United Nationalities Federal Council ((UNFC) Monday which 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 during a meeting with the government's Panglong Conference Preparatory Committee at Yangon's National Reconciliation and Peace Center last weekend.

Meanwhile, a tripartite talks among the UPDJC, ethnic armed groups and the Preparatory Committee for Panglong Conference has also been underway in Yangon on the political framework.

The UPDJC has agreed to allow non-signatory armed groups to the NCA to join the 21st Century Panglong Conference.

Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also chairperson of the UPDJC made up of representatives of the government, ethnic armed groups and political parties, called for mutual trust and unity to successfully hold the upcoming 21st Century Panglong 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. Endit