Joint Statement of Nationwide Ceasefire Forum between UPWC and EAOs

Joint Statement of Nationwide Ceasefire Forum between Union Peace-Making Work Committee (UPWC) and Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs)

1.  The UPWC and the EAOs held a forum on November 4 and 5, 2013, at the Majeh Assembly Hall of Myitkyina Town, in Kachin State, fo signing the nationwide ceasefire accord. The forum was attended by the team led by UPWC Vice Chairman and Union Minister U Aung Min, and representatives of the EAOs. As observers, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Burma, Mr. Nambia, and China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs, Mr. Wan Yin Phan, attended the forum.

2.  In this meeting, a newly formed Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) by Ethnic Armed Organisations’ leaders presented and officially submitted “Common Positions of the Ethnic Armed Organisations on Nationwide Ceasefire (Laiza Agreement)” to the Union Peace-Making Work Committee (UPWC).

3. The Union Peace-Making Work Committee (UPWC) officially submitted the draft “Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement between the Union of the Republic of Myanmar and the Ethnic Armed Organisations” to the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT).

4. Both parties agree that in order to achieve political agreements, the following tasks must be undertaken: a. Nationwide Ceasefire b. Framework for Political Dialogue c. Holding of Political Dialogues

5. Both parties agree to hold the next round of dialogue in the month of December, 2013 at Hpa-an, Karen State after the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) consults with their respective Ethnic Armed Organisations in order to prepare for the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.

6. Both parties are encouraged by the promising collaboration between the parties during this dialogue with an aim to bring an end to more than sixty years of armed conflict in the country and inaugurate political dialogues. Both parties agree and release this joint statement in order to accelerate the process of political dialogues.

5 November 2013, Myitkyina