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UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Thursday welcomed the outcome of recent discussions between the Myanmar government and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), praising all parties for their efforts to make this happen.
Ban encouraged both sides to reach a ceasefire and to redouble their efforts toward "a fair, genuine and durable solution so that all of Myanmar can achieve peace for the first time since the country's independence," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesperson.
Representatives of the Central Peace Making Group of the Myanmar government and the KIO on Tuesday held their second round of political talks in Ruili, a border town of China linking Myanmar's Muse.
They issued a joint statement after the talks, saying that both sides agreed to make efforts for an affirmed ceasefire, to negotiate matters related to their armed forces continually, and to open coordination offices as necessary.
Both sides also agreed to have the next round of peace talks before April 10.
In his Thursday statement, Ban said he hoped that "the decision to establish liaison offices will improve coordination and monitoring of developments and facilitate the implementation of previous agreements."
"With both sides agreeing to expedite humanitarian relief to internally displaced persons, the Secretary-General expects that aid for those in need can now be delivered to all areas in Kachin, " the statement noted, adding that the UN will continue to be available as needed to assist in these efforts.
The Myanmar government and the KIO resumed their peace talks in Ruili on Feb. 4, which focused on the establishment of communication channels and the reduction of military tension.
China provided assistance and facilitation for the talks while fully respecting the two sides' thoughts.
Government forces of Myanmar and the KIA, the KIO's army, had been engaged in continuous fighting from June 2011 till February this year.
