Foreign Secretary welcomes U Aung Min of Burma
Foreign Secretary William Hague discusses peace process in Burma with Burmese Minister for the President's Office, U Aung Min.
Following his meeting with Burmese Minister for the President’s Office, U Aung Min, the Foreign Secretary said:
It was a pleasure to welcome His Excellency Aung Min to the United Kingdom, and to congratulate him on his role in the remarkable changes we have seen in Burma.
We discussed the peace process in Burma, which has seen ceasefires with ten out of eleven armed groups across the country after years of fighting, and how British experts could best support further progress. We agreed on the need to take forward negotiations to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Kachin State, and to address the hostility behind the recent outbreak of anti-Muslim violence in Meiktila. The British Government will continue to support work bringing different faith communities in Burma together.
We discussed the serious humanitarian situation in Rakhine State and the importance of ensuring that the Rohingya community, which has lived in Burma for many centuries, is accorded full citizenship rights in line with international standards.
Last week G8 foreign ministers endorsed the Burmese Government’s commitment to responsible investment, and today I made clear that the British Government will continue to do all it can to encourage Burma’s transition to a free and prosperous society.