Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has said that there is widespread agreement between the United Nations Security Council and the international community on possible steps to solve the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine state.
Kafi Annan said the agreement was made on September 28 in the open session of the Security Council. Everybody has agreed to stop all forms of violence, to provide immediate relief to international relief in the affected areas and to ensure the safe and respectful return of all refugees.
In a meeting on the request of two permanent members of the Security Council France and the UK on Friday, Kofi Annan talked about the situation in Rakhine state.
Anan served as adviser to the advisory commission on the question of the Rakhine State formed by the government of Myanmar. The commission submitted a 10-point recommendation in August last year to resolve the crisis in the Rakhine state. As specially invited as the President of this Commission, Kofi Annan gave detailed explanation about the situation of the members of the council and explained the outline of future action.
Organized under the Arya Formula, these meetings were open to state and civil society organizations. However, journalists were not allowed to stay there. After the meeting, Kafi Annan briefly spoke in front of the journalists. They answered their questions.
Myanmar's representative and the country's military adviser claimed that the security forces in Rakhine state were closed. There is no violence there. In his words, Kafi Annan said, if the violence is closed, then why are the people leaving the country still in the team? What is the reason for the hunger, the terrorist group's activities, or the fear of social separation of Rohingyas? Kony Annan stressed, whatever the reason, violence has to be stopped.
Kafi Annan said that the return of Rohingyas is not so easy. If the Rohingya do not feel safe, their lives will be better than before, they can not think, they will not return.
The former Secretary General said those who go back to Myanmar can not be kept in shelters. You have to go back to their respective villages. All support for new life will be provided.
According to Kofi Annan, it is possible to prepare a roadmap on the basis of the recommendation which is in the Rakhine Commission. And following it is possible to achieve short and long-term solutions. He emphasized that the recommendation of the Commission has been proposed as the main reason for the problem, the question of citizenship of Rohingyas, the resolution has been proposed. It is also meant to preserve the economic development of the region, inter-communal harmony and cultural heritage of all ethnic groups.
Kofi Annan said, Myanmar's state councilor Aung San Suu Kyi approved the recommendations of the commission. The Inter-Ministerial Committee has been formed to consider how it can be implemented. Suu Kyi is interested in forming an expert committee consisting of international members, said Kofi Annan.
Asked if the Myanmar government had any reason to resolve the crisis in the way of the massacre, Kafi Annan said that the international community is increasing pressure on the army of Myanmar. He thinks that after five decades of military rule, Myanmar is currently undergoing complex transformation. Here dual government system is under civil and military leadership. Due to this, additional complications have been created to solve the crisis.
The former Secretary-General believes that he will have to solve this crisis in Myanmar's own interest. Myanmar's economic development still stops because of keeping this crisis alive.
In response to this question, Kafi Annan said in response to the question, he hoped the council would accept such a proposal that the Myanmar authorities will put pressure on the authorities to ensure the safety of the refugees and the return of respect. Just do not have to go back, the refugees need to ensure the safe life.
Anan said, the roadmap that is based on the recommendations of the Rakhine Commission, the international community is ready to help Myanmar authorities to implement it. Failure to resolve this crisis is not only for Myanmar and its neighbors; Crisis can also create long-term problems.
In response to another question, Kafi Annan said that he has no alternative offer outside the commission's recommendations. If everyone is ready to implement these recommendations collectively, it is possible to solve the problem.
Answering a question, Kafi Annan said, as far as he knows, violence has stopped. The situation is cool now He said, however, this does not mean that no person or group will go back to the violent way when the security forces are withdrawn.
Ambassador Masud bin Momen spoke on behalf of UN permanent delegation to Bangladesh on the occasion. In a telephone interview with First Light, Ambassador Momen expressed his satisfaction over the results of the meeting and said there is a clear agreement between the international community on the question of Myanmar. In the Security Council meeting September 28, the UN Secretary-General outlined the way that the crisis was resolved, Kofi Annan supported it. Ambassador Momen said, the settlement of the crisis does not seem to be very easy. But they are on the right track.
