The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Thura U Shwe Mann, Speaker of the Lower House of the Parliament of the Union of the Republic of Myanmar.

The Secretary-General highlighted the positive role played by Myanmar’s Parliament as a prominent exemplar of the change in Myanmar through its active, vigorous and decisive debates on political, developmental and social issues since the start of the reform and democratization process.

He underlined the proactive role the Parliament could play in ensuring that the upcoming general election process would be credible, inclusive and transparent. He also expressed hope that it would play a constructive role in taking the peace process forward once the framework for a political dialogue was established.

The Secretary-General added that the debates in Parliament on media laws, hate speech, interfaith marriage, religious conversion, and other issues would help promote democracy and communal harmony. The Secretary-General commended the leadership of the Speaker in this regard.