Hanoi (VNA)ꦇ – Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on July 17 had a historic meeting with representatives from ethnic armed groups to deliberate the organisation of the 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference.

Before the meeting, Zaw Htay, vice director of the President’s Office told the press that Aung San Suu Kyi would have discussions with five leaders from the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) to gather their viewpoints on peace process in the country. The UNFC represents both the groups which have signed and the group which have not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA). It was led by N’Ban La - Chairman of the UNFC and from Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), which has not yet signed the NCA. Since coming to power, the National League for Democracy Party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, has given top priority to building peace and ending conflict in the country. Experts said that this is a challenging mission for the new government due to decades-long deep suspicion among the ethnic armed groups and between the groups and the government army. The Government will organise the 21 st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference to work for national reconciliation and domestic peace, involving both NCA signatories and non-signatories. In a meeting of the Preparatory Committee for holding the conference on July 5, Aung San Suu Kyi highlighted that reconciliation is not only to be made between the government and the armed groups but also between the government and ethnic nationalities.-VNA