Ethnic armed groups in Myanmar on November 2 signed a framework agreement to pave the way for signing nationwide cease-fire with the government at the end of a four-day Ethnic Armed Groups Conference in the border town of Laiza, northernmost Kachin state, sources said.

The nine-point draft framework agreement mainly called for holding political dialogue with the government within a few months.

It also includes acceptable political roadmaps to both sides, promising to hold political dialogue and trust building.

The framework plan will be presented to government's central peace making group on November 4 in Myitgyina, the capital of Kachin state.

The conference of leaders of ethnic armed groups, which began on November 30, mainly discussed nationwide ceasefire, political dialogue and establishment of federal union system.

The conference was organised by the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and 17 other armed groups.
In his monthly radio speech to the nation on Friday November 1, Myanmar President U Thein Sein expressed his belief that the Laiza conference would pave way for implementing political dialogue process between the government and the armed groups.

Thein Sein, in his message to the conference one day earlier, also hoped that the conference would reach a basic agreement on building ceasefire accord and holding politic dialogue with government to build lasting peace in the country.

Since August 2011, the government has reached peace deals with 14 ethnic armed groups.-VNA