OIC delegation to Myanmar meets Vice President and Vice Speaker of Parliament

Date: 15/11/2013

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and his accompanying delegation from seven member states met on Thursday, November 14, 2013 in the capital of Myanmar, Nay Pyi Daw, the Vice President of Myanmar and the Chairman of Central Committee on Implementation of Peace and Stability and Development in Rakhine State, Dr. Sai Mauk Kham, and the Vice Speaker of People’s Parliament, Nanda Kyawswar. The meetings were constructive reflecting both sides willingness to cooperate with the other. In both meetings, the Secretary General expressed appreciation of the recent steps taken by Myanmar towards democracy, inter-communal reconciliation, reform and ending violence to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including in Rakhine State. Ihsanoglu expressed his wish to open channels of communication and dialogue with Myanmar and that OIC, as the official representative of the Muslim world, is in a position to cooperate and contribute to socio-economic development programs in Myanmar. The OIC delegation members stressed at the meeting, which was attended by seven Members of Parliament including two Muslims, on readiness to contribute to ongoing humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance to all affected people and communities, including Rakhine State, without any discrimination. They also stressed on the need to clarify the misperceptions and misunderstandings on both sides and to build mutual trust and interfaith community harmony. The OIC delegation then had a meeting with the Interfaith Friendship Group, which had two representatives of four religious groups in Myanmar – Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and Christian. They exchanged views on the root causes of the conflict in Rakhine and how to work together to build trust, harmony and balance in the community.

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