Republic of the Union of Myanmar

National Unity Government

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Statement (12/2023)

3 June 2023

Statement on the Foreign Minister’s meeting with UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Dr. Noeleen Heyzer

Union Minister of Foreign Affairs Daw Zin Mar Aung welcomed her in-person meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Dr. Noeleen Heyzer on 2 June 2023.

In a broad discussion, the Foreign Minister accepted Dr. Heyzer’s decision to conclude her assignment and expressed the National Unity Government’s appreciation for her commitment to her mandate.

Dr. Heyzer brought considerable energy and experience to her role and made determined efforts, particularly in pursuing humanitarian assistance for communities in desperate need and in elevating Myanmar women’s voices.

Yet, as Dr. Hezyer concedes, the significant obstacles she faced as Special Envoy were made worse by a lack of international resolve on Myanmar. Consequently, during her term the illegal military junta escalated its widespread atrocities, ignored UN Security Council and General Assembly demands, and frustrated efforts to implement ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus.

In recent weeks, the junta has also prevented UN agencies from delivering aid to communities devastated by Cyclone Mocha including in Rakhine state, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stating that the ‘damage and loss of life was both foreseeable and avoidable and is clearly linked with the systematic denial of human rights’. This exposes the junta’s ongoing weaponisation of aid for military gain and its sustained persecution of the Rohingya.

It is therefore time for UN Secretary-General António Guterres to take the lead on Myanmar. The gravity of the situation and the vacuum created by the Special Envoy’s departure requires the Secretary-General’s use of his own good offices.

Over two years ago, the Secretary-General affirmed the ‘unwavering support of the United Nations to the people of Myanmar in their pursuit of democracy, peace, human rights and the rule of law’.

This must see the Secretary-General personally prioritise the stopping of the slaughter and a political solution that upholds the Myanmar people’s democratic will.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs National Unity Government

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