In his radio speech to the nation on November 1, the President said that the three-day conference will pave the way for the successful inauguration of a political dialogue process between the Government and the ethnic armed groups.
He clarified that the planned signing of the nationwide ceasefire agreement is to comply with the demands of the groups.
He also made it clear that in the current peace process, the Government discussed all items proposed by the ethnic armed groups without setting any pre-conditions. He called on the groups’ leaders to join efforts to build trust and work together to find a peaceful solution to end the conflicts.
U Thein Sein emphasised the responsibilities and interests of the concerned parties in ensuring national security, order and stability, affirming that there is no breakaway in a united Myanmar country.
The Government claimed that it has reached ceasefire agreements with 14 ethnic armed groups since the President's peace offer was extended in August 2011.
In another move, the weekly Myanmar Times wrote on October 31 that the Union Election Commission has permitted an alliance of 16 ethnic political groups to set up a new party with which they plan to contest the 2015 election.-VNA
