Myanmar's Panglong conference agrees to start political dialogue

The 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference of Myanmar has agreed to continue reviewing the framework for political dialogue and start the dialogue at national level right after the conference, according to Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) Thursday.

It was agreed on the first day of the conference held on Wednesday following the opening ceremony.

Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, member of the Preparatory Committee for the Panglong Peace Conference, clarified the undertakings of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), focusing on the achievements in lessening of tensions among signatory armed groups to the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA).

He emphasized the need for continuous measures to enhance stability to reduce aggression and build trust among armed groups, adding that these endeavors would facilitate the political dialogue which would pave way for federalism.

The national-level political dialogue is to be conducted as agreed in the framework of the dialogue with the participation of representatives from the government, the parliament, the military, ethnic armed organizations, political parties and civil society organizations.

The 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference of Myanmar, which aims to unite all ethnic nationalities and build a democratic federal union through dialogue, kicked off in Nay Pyi Taw Wednesday.

The four-day historical conference gathered about 1,600 representatives of the government, the parliament, the military, political parties, ethnic armed and non-armed organizations and civil societies.

The UPDJC, JMC and the Preparatory Committee for the Panglong Peace Conference submitted their reports on the framework for political dialogue to the conference.

Group-wise meetings will be held in the following days of the conference, according to the agenda. Endit