Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (C, rear) meets with leaders of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS)(Mongla) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, July 29, 2016. The Wa and Mongla delegations said on Friday that they welcome the 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference although the detailed discussions of participation are underway, said U Zaw Htay, spokesperson for the President's Office. (Xinhua/Soe Than Lynn)
NAY PYI TAW, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS)(Mongla) said on Friday that they welcome the 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference although the detailed discussions of participation are underway, said U Zaw Htay, spokesperson for the President's Office.
The remarks were made during their talks with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw.
Aung San Suu Kyi met with the Wa delegation led by U Pao Yu Yi and Mongla delegation led by Sai Lin, discussing about the current attempts for peace process respectively. The two groups are non-signatory ethnic armed forces to the country's Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement(NCA).
The state counselor said that the Panglong Conference is the first step forward for a robust Union.
The Wa and Mongla groups are scheduled to meet and continue discussion with Myanmar Peace Commission on Saturday, according to U Zaw Htay.
Those ethnic armed groups also meet with the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services ,Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.
Meanwhile, the four-day Ethnic Armed Organizations'(EAOs) Plenary Meeting has been ongoing since July 26 in Mai Ja Yang, northernmost Kachin state. It was extended till July 30.
The 17 organizations from the 21 ethnic armed forces have participated the meeting.
The United Wa State Army(UWSA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang)-- NSCN (K) were absent from the meeting.
