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The United Nations’ unilateral pressure on Myanmar does not contribute to constructive cooperation (8-4-2024)

(8-4-2024, Nay Pyi Taw)

Recently, the United Nations has put pressure on Myanmar from different aspects. An open briefing was convened at the United Nations Security Council in New York on 4 April 2024 and discussed the current situation in Myanmar. The Human Rights Council held the 55th regular session from 26 February to 5 April 2024 in Geneva. During the meeting the Interactive Dialogues with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar were held on 1 and 19 March 2024 respectively. The Human Rights Council also adopted the resolution entitled “Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar” submitted by Belgium on behalf of the EU on 4 April 2024 in the absence of Myanmar (the country-concerned). It is observed that the said resolution included unfounded and one-sided allegations pertaining to the humanitarian assistance and human rights in Myanmar. Amidst the challenges, the Government continues its endeavors to maintain peace, stability, the rule of law, prosperity and convening general elections systematically. Myanmar always attaches great importance to providing humanitarian assistance to the people in need. 16 UN agencies have opened their field offices throughout Myanmar. As of February 2024, altogether over 1,700 staff, more specifically around 130 international staff and around 1,600 locally recruited staff are working for the UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in Myanmar. Travel access has been facilitated for the AHA Center, UN agencies and international organizations, INGOs, and some embassies of donor countries to the requested areas of Myanmar depending on the prevailing situation and on-ground security conditions. During the past three years, the Government has facilitated over 1000 times of travel access to UN agencies and INGOs and more than 60 visits of embassies throughout Myanmar. Particularly, in Rakhine State alone, the Government has granted 250 times of travel authorization to UN agencies and over 300 times to INGOs in 2023. Therefore, Myanmar clearly states that the accusations of access denial mentioned in some reports and statements of the United Nations are groundless. Moreover, the Government of Myanmar has facilitated the proposed visits of high-level and senior officials of the UN agencies. A total of 19 official visits of high-level and senior officials of the UN and international organizations including the visits of Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security were facilitated during the past three years. Myanmar is keeping up its efforts for the repatriation of the displaced persons from Rakhine State in accordance with the bilateral instruments and always ready to receive verified displaced persons. The Government is fully committed to the repatriation process. The process has not yet been able to commence due to the current security conditions of the Rakhine State. Myanmar consistently opposes country-specific resolutions and mandates as well as their follow-up Interactive Dialogues since their modalities do not contribute to objective reporting, constructive dialogue and cooperation between the country- concerned and the international community, in addition to go contrary to the fundamental principles of impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity of the Human Rights Council. Therefore, Myanmar categorically rejects the resolution submitted by Belgium on behalf of the EU. The Government highly appreciates the friendly countries that uphold a balanced position during the dialogues. The United Nations Secretary-General announced the appointment of the former Australian Foreign Minister Ms. Julie Bishop as his Special Envoy on Myanmar on 5 April 2024. Despite Myanmar’s rejection of the country-specific resolutions including the resolution which contains the creation of the mandate of appointing a Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, Myanmar has constructively cooperated with the previous Special Envoys of the Secretary-General on Myanmar as a gesture of constructive cooperation with the United Nations. Pertaining to the appointment of Ms. Julie Bishop as the Special Envoy on Myanmar, no official communication has been made to Myanmar by the United Nations. Myanmar underscores that unilateral pressure does not contribute to constructive cooperation between Myanmar and the United Nations. Mutual understanding, respect and reciprocal engagement will bring pragmatic and positive cooperation.