31 January

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as Chairperson of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center, received a delegation from New Mon State Party led by its Chairman Nai Han Thar at the NRPC in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

The two sides first introduced each other and the State Counsellor then discussed Myanmar’s current need for peace, development and prioritizing ethnic affairs after NMSP have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, and the need for cooperation for the upcoming session of the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong to be successful in line with the decisions made at the 8th JICM meeting.

Next, the NMSP Chairman said they fully support the State Counsellor’s aim to establish a Federal Union during the speech she made at the 4th anniversary of the signing of the NCA, ethnic races are putting more trust on the State Counsellor, and the need to overcome the obstacles in the political dialogues that have yet to reach any agreements.

After this, they discussed teaching the Mon language, regional development and the living conditions for NMSP members and their families. The State Counsellor then handed over gifts to the NMSP members and the NMSP Chairman gave presents to the State Counsellor in return. They then took a documentary photo.

Accompanying the State Counsellor at the meeting were NRPC Vice Chairman (1) Union Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe, Vice Chairman (2) Peace Commission Chairman Dr Tin Myo Win, Vice Chairman (3) Union Attorney-General U Tun Tun Oo, Union Minister U Min Thu, Secretary Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Tin and Director-General U Zaw Htay of the Ministry of Office of the State Counsellor.

Present at the meeting with the NMSP Chairman were Joint-Secretary Nai Win Hla, CEC members Nai Aung Ma Ngay, Nai Banya Lei and Military Leader Nai Banya Mae San. —MNA (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)