MFA Press Statement: Working Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 5 November 2018

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan made a bilateral working visit to Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on 5 November 2018 and called on Her Excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Minister Balakrishnan had a wide- ranging discussion on bilateral issues and developments in Myanmar.  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi updated Minister Balakrishnan on the situation in Rakhine State. Both Myanmar and Bangladesh are in talks to commence repatriation of the refugees, pursuant to theArrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar in November 2017. Minister Balakrishnan and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi agreed that the priority was to ensure that the displaced communities return in a voluntary, safe and dignified manner. Minister Balakrishnan and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also discussed how ASEAN could support Myanmar in the repatriation process. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also updated Minister Balakrishnan on the work of the Independent Commission of Enquiry, established in July 2018 by Myanmar to investigate the allegations of human rights violations and related issues.

Minister Balakrishnan also met Chief Coordinator of the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Affairs, Resettlement and Development (UEHRD) in Rakhine State and Member of the Independent Commission of Enquiry Prof Aung Tun Thet, and was hosted to dinner by Union Minister for International Cooperation Kyaw Tin. The delegation departs Nay Pyi Taw for Singapore today.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

5 NOVEMBER 2018