OSLO, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Norway said Thursday it welcomed the signing of a nationwide ceasefire accord between the Myanmar government and eight ethnic armed groups out of a total of 15 involved in the peace process.
"The signing of a national ceasefire agreement in Myanmar today is an important first step towards lasting peace. Norway is ready to support all the parties in the further process," Norway's foreign minister Borge Brende said.
"I urge all parties to abide by their commitments, also those who are not signing the agreement at this stage," he said.
Brende said his country hoped Thursday's agreement will provide a basis for peace and reconciliation efforts and the authorities and the ethnic groups will be able to build on this.
The Myanmar government and eight ethnic armed groups signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) in Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday, signalling a major step towards ending more than six decades' civil conflict in the Southeast Asian country.
