The Secretary-General met this afternoon with H.E. Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The two exchanged views on the ongoing reforms in the country.

Welcoming developments in democratization, national reconciliation and socio-economic development, the Secretary-General encouraged the Government to further consolidate these developments as the country proceeds toward the 2015 elections. He also expressed his confidence in Myanmar’s effective Chairmanship of ASEAN during the coming year.

Referring to the challenges of communal violence in the country, the Secretary-General said he was greatly concerned by the most recent developments in Thandwe. He underlined the importance of urgent action by the Government to protect the vulnerable population; to stop the spread of violence and maintain order; to address the root causes of the problem; and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. In the context of the President's "zero tolerance" toward communal violence, it was noted that firm, swift and principled measures by the Government would signal its genuine commitment to overcome this issue.

The Secretary-General and the Minister also touched upon other topics, including the status of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Myanmar.