STATEMENT BY THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR KAREN TAN AT THE INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR MS YANGHEE LEE THIRD COMMITTEE 28 OCTOBER 2014

Madam Chair

1                 I thank you for giving me the floor.  I thank Special Rapporteur Ms Yanghee Lee for her presentation.

2                  Allow me to make a few brief points to offer some perspective to our discussions on the human rights situation in Myanmar. 

3                 Over the past two years, President Thein Sein has demonstrated continued commitment to Myanmar’s reforms and socio-economic development.  Myanmar’s economic and political transformation has been encouraging.

4                 Nevertheless, in a transition of such magnitude, challenges are inevitable.  The international community should view these challenges in a holistic manner and exercise patience.  The reform process in multi-racial Myanmar has not been, nor will it be, smooth sailing.  Myanmar needs to carefully manage the delicate national reconciliation process with its various ethnic minority groups following 60 years of ongoing conflict.  That the government is now able to meet the ethnic groups regularly to engage in dialogue and to discuss a nationwide ceasefire agreement is an encouraging step. Nation-building cannot be hurried.  

5                 With regard to the situation in the Rakhine state, Singapore notes that it remains a complex and delicate issue.  The Myanmar Government has continued to cooperate with the UN and other international and local partners to improve transparency and address the humanitarian needs of affected communities.  We hope that its efforts, together with the support of the international community, will restore peace and stability in the various States and Regions, and lead to steady progress in Myanmar’s political and economic development.

6                 The international community should continue to strengthen its development partnership with Myanmar and support Myanmar concretely in building up its capacity.  Singapore has consistently done so over the years.  We have been sharing our developmental experience and working closely with Myanmar to provide training courses in various areas including in the English language, information technology, urban planning and finance.  We have also helped as much as we can in the training of Myanmar civil servants in the legal and finance sectors.  

7                 Singapore urges the EU to reconsider its decision to table its resolution on the human rights situation in Myanmar.  Such country-specific resolutions are inherently divisive and unhelpful.  The promotion and protection of human rights should instead be based on cooperation and genuine dialogue.

8                 Thank you.

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