"UNION Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor U Kyaw Tint Swe attended the High-Level Segment of the 43rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held in Geneva from 24 to 26 February 2020 and delivered a statement on 26 February 2020. In his statement, the Union Minister stressed that cooperation with the United Nations is a cornerstone of the Foreign Policy of Myanmar. Recalling 27th anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, he highlighted that “States have the duty for promotion, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, thus, reinforcing the principle of exhaustion of domestic remedies”. He added that peace and security, development and enjoyment of human rights are intertwined, so that achievement of national reconciliation and peace is the topmost priority for Myanmar, a country of internal conflicts for 70 years. He also apprised the Council of the Government’s efforts in bringing the ethnic armed groups to the negotiating table as well as achievement and progress made in signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). He further informed the Council that 4th session of the Union Peace Conference- 21st Century Panglong is scheduled to be held in first four months of 2020. On the issue of Rakhine State, while sharing the concern of the international community over the conflict which affects all communities, he reaffirmed the Myanmar Government’s commitment in resolving the issue and pointed out that the deliberate attacks of ARSA in 2016 and 2017 not only triggered the humanitarian situation, also derailed the efforts to bring social cohesion, reconciliation, peace and development to Rakhine State. He underscored that “priority now is to expedite the repatriation of verified displaced persons to Rakhine State under voluntary, safe and dignified conditions”. In this regard, he encouraged Bangladesh to show genuine political will, committed efforts and cooperation by strictly adhering to the signed agreements..."