The Elders warmly welcome the assumption of office by Myanmar’s new civilian government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD), following its electoral success last year

1 April 2016

The Elders warmly welcome the assumption of office by Myanmar’s new civilian government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD), following its electoral success last year.

The Chair of The Elders, Kofi Annan, said:

“This is a landmark moment for the country.

We are heartened by the commitment of President U Htin Kyaw and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD leader and new Foreign Minister, to peace and reconciliation; we encourage the NLD to continue working with other national partners to sustain an inclusive political dialogue as the country moves forward.”

The Elders also wish to acknowledge the contributions made by the outgoing Thein Sein government and the military authorities to ensuring a smooth transition.

The Elders will continue to support the people of Myanmar; they look forward to engaging with the new government and other national stakeholders as they shape their democratic future.

The Elders are independent leaders using their collective experience and influence for peace, justice and human rights worldwide. The group was founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007.

The Elders are Martti Ahtisaari, Kofi Annan (Chair), Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Harlem Brundtland (Deputy Chair), Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Hina Jilani, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson and Ernesto Zedillo.

Desmond Tutu is an honorary Elder.

For biographies of the Elders, blogs, photos, videos and more information about their work please go to www.theElders.org.Follow The Elders on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.