Readout on meeting of Secretary-General's Partnership Group on Myanmar

The Secretary-General convened a Ministerial-level meeting of the Partnership Group on Myanmar today. The Partnership Group welcomed the attendance by Myanmar as a reflection of the positive direction of the reform process in that country and its constructive engagement with the international community. Member States voiced their continued support to the reform efforts of the Government in the areas of democratization, socio-economic development, and national reconciliation. They underlined the importance of the upcoming elections as a decisive phase in the reform agenda and stressed the need for electoral bodies to function in an impartial and constructive manner. They also highlighted the need to strengthen state institutions and the rule of law in Myanmar. Member States welcomed President Thein Sein’s exemplary leadership on national reconciliation and called for all stakeholders in the peace process to engage constructively for an early signing of a nationwide ceasefire and commencement of a political dialogue. The Secretary-General called for a leap of faith by all sides and stressed the need to move beyond narrow agendas in the interest of a unified Myanmar. Referring to the ongoing communal polarization in Rakhine and elsewhere, Member States emphasised the need for firm and decisive action by the Government to prevent further violence by resolving the substantive issues affecting those displaced by previous outbreaks of communal violence and addressing the underlying issues pertaining to status verification and citizenship for Rohingya Muslims. They welcomed recent positive initiatives and urged the Government to move ahead purposefully in the months ahead, including with regard to facilitating the early return of such aid agencies as Médicins Sans Frontières to Rakhine, and cooperating effectively with the United Nations to deliver strengthened and equitable development and humanitarian assistance to all communities. Member States also discussed the provisional data from the recent population and household census across the country. They highlighted that the full results, expected to be released next year, should be the basis for designing inclusive social programmes that enhance the quality of life of all the people of Myanmar. The Secretary-General also highlighted that the establishment of an OHCHR office with a full mandate would help Myanmar strengthen its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. While recognizing the complex ethnic and religious fabric of the country and its history, Member States also called upon Myanmar to remain committed to the democratic process and to international humanitarian and human rights  standards. In this effort, they assured the Government and the people of Myanmar of the full support and sympathy of the international community.