Myanmar's parliament approves appointment of minister of state counselor's office

Myanmar's Union Parliament Monday approved the appointment of retired permanent representative to the United Nations U Kyaw Tint Swe as Minister of the Office of the State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

U Kyaw Tint Swe is currently a member of the Union Parliament's Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission, led by former parliament speaker U Shwe Mann.

He was also a member of the Letpadaung Investigation Commission, which was assigned to investigate the controversial copper mine project in 2013.

The appointment of the Minister of State Counselor's Office is said to assist State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi in carrying out her responsibilities in her capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Union Parliament last Tuesday approved President U Htin Kyaw's proposed addition of the Ministry of the Office of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi to his government set-up, bringing the total number of the ministries to 22.

The new government took office on April 1 after the handover of the duties of head of state from the previous U Thein Sein's government was complete on March 30.

(APD)