Regional Forum: Union Minister Joins 28th ASEAN Regional Forum

The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin participated in the 28th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) via video conference on 6 August.  During the 28thARF, Ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues as well as on the future direction of the ARF.

At the Meeting, the Union Minister emphasized that Myanmar attached great importance to the ARF as a primary forum to foster constructive dialogue and cooperation on political and security issues of common interest and concern in the region. He also said that he was happy to see the progress achieved in the implementation of the Hanoi Plan of Action to implement the ARF Vision Statement which is the future plan of ARF, encompassing seven priority areas of cooperation and action lines on Institutional enhancement of the ARF.

He was of the view that strengthening cooperation in these priority areas could help promote confidence building measures and preventive diplomacy that pave the way forward for the ARF to become more action-oriented forum at a pace comfortable to all. He also informed Meeting on the successful convening of the 14th ARF Experts and Eminent Persons (EEPs) Meeting on 6 July 2021 via video conference co-chaired by Myanmar and China. On regional and international issues, the Union Minister explained the reason why state of emergency was declared in Myanmar; implementation of the five-point consensus of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting; appointment of the special envoy on 4 August 2021 and Myanmar’s willingness to work closely with the special envoy.

He pointed out that while ARF participating countries have had welcomed the appointment of the special envoy their support must compliment the five-point consensus and the five-point roadmap because anything beyond the five-point consensus and the five-point roadmap would not help the special envoy nor Myanmar.

He also pointed out that a meaningful political dialogue should not include non-state actors and unlawful associations and terrorist group that are committing terrorist acts in the country.

In this regard, he called on the ARF participating countries to condemn the violence and terrorist acts committed by the so-called People Defense Force (PDF) who were receiving support and financial assistance from unlawful associations and terrorist groups such as NUG and CRPH.

On the situation in Rakhine State, he reiterated Myanmar’s commitment to work with ASEAN in the implementation of the recommendations made under the Preliminary Needs Assessment (PNA), and stressed that a successful repatriation also needs close cooperation from Bangladesh, and requested the ARF participating countries to also encourage Bangladesh to work with Myanmar on the repatriation of the displaced persons from Rakhine State.