H.E. Mr. Aung Kyi Nyunt, Speaker of the Union Parliament and Chairman of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw paid a courtesy call with Mr. Martin Chungoun, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at IPU Secretariat on 21 June 2022 in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly debate on the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. At the General Assembly, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun delivered Myanmar’s statement which emphasized the important role parliaments have in defending and sustaining democracy.
In their meeting, the Myanmar Hluttaw’s Speaker and the IPU Secretary General discussed the formation of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and the National Unity Government (NUG), the CRPH’s achievements and international cooperation, the transition towards federal democracy in Myanmar and the roles played by the CRPH, NUG and the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), the military junta’s human rights violations including of Myanmar’s elected MPs and the deprivation of fundamental rights of detained MPs and political prisoners, which the IPU monitors systematically.
Ambassador H.E. Mr. Kyaw Moe Htun, Myanmar Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Ms. Paddy Torsney, Permanent Observer of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to the United Nations also participated.
The CRPH’s Chairman also met with a number of Permanent Representatives of UN Member States, including Ambassador H.E. Mr. Robert Rae, Permanent Representative of Canada. The Speaker expressed his sincere gratitude for the valuable support in the efforts to maintain and restore democracy in Myanmar by Canada and invited it to continue assistance in the future. Both exchanged views on the inhuman acts of the brutal military junta, the pressing needs for humanitarian aid for displaced persons who lost their homes and property as a result of the military’s pillaging and the role the international community could play to alleviate the suffering. Both sides agreed to maintain close contact and to intensify cooperation in the future.
The Chairman also attended a reception hosted by the International IDEA, which holds the position of Permanent Observer to the United Nations and strongly supports the restoration of constitutional rule of law and democracy in Myanmar. The reception gave an opportunity to the Chairman and other elected Myanmar MPs to exchange views with the President and Secretary General of the IPU, several Permanent Representatives and other diplomats, as well as IDEA staff. The IDEA programme in Myanmar is led by Mr. Marcus Brand, Head of Mission who also raised the issue of Myanmar’s duly elected, persecuted MPs in his address to the UN General Assembly on that day.
On 22 of June, Chairman met with Counsellor Mr. Einar Rystad and Policy Adviser Ms. Ingrid Ernø from the Security Council and Peacebuilding Affairs of Norway Permanent Mission to the United Nations. In the meeting, Norway’s diplomats shared their support to Myanmar’s affairs at the UN Security Council and exchanged their opinions on the work of engagement and cooperation with member states of the UN Security Council by the CRPH and NUG, building relations with neighbor and regional countries, the need of security grantees and humanitarian assistance for the citizens and parliamentarians in the borders.
The Speaker of Myanmar Parliament- CRPH\’s Chairman’s visit to New York resulted in improved visibility for Myanmar’s struggle for democracy, a better understanding by the international community of the perspective of Myanmar’s legitimate, elected bodies and an agreement with key partners in working together more closely in the future.
The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw
