Myanmar’s foreign policy will remain unchanged and the country will continue to pursue friendly relations with all other nations, said Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Min Aung Hlaing in a televised address on 8 February.

During the one-year state of emergency, there would be no change in foreign, executive and economic policies and Myanmar will continue its current political path.

Min Aung Hlaing, in his capacity as chairperson of the State Administration Council, reiterated a five-point roadmap to be implemented during the state of emergency.

Under the roadmap, the Union Election Commission has been reviewing the electoral process of last year’s general election, he said.

The roadmap also includes continuing COVID-19 preventive measures and vaccine distribution and supporting businesses affected by the pandemic and upholding all existing investment agreements.

The top official stressed plans to achieve eternal peace across the country in accordance with a nationwide ceasefire agreement and called for cooperation of the ethnic people and ethnic armed organizations to achieve the lasting peace.

The State Administration Council will hold free and fair general elections and the power of the state will be handed over to the political party which wins the elections in line with democracy standards after tasks were accomplished under the state of emergency.

The military took power and declared the state of emergency in Myanmar after detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior figures from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) on 1 February.

Previously, the military had demanded the postponement of the new parliament sessions, citing massive voting fraud in the November 2020 elections, which saw the NLD win a majority of seats in both houses of parliament. The Union Election Commission had dismissed the allegation.

Source: VNA