Statement by Canadian Friends of Burma
– Saturday Oct. 6, 2012
OTTAWA - Canadian Friends of Burma
(CFOB) learned an unannounced but 'official visit' of Burmese Foreign Minister
U Wunna Maung to Canada
from Oct. 2 to 4.
"U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, paid an official visit to
Canada," The state-run newspaper, The
New Light of Myanmar, reported on Saturday Oc. 6., 2012.
However, Canadians in general and Burmese-Canadians in
particular are not aware of his presence in the country. The Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) did not seem to make any public
announcement or media advisory on his visit. The state-run newspaper indicated
that the Burmese Minister visited "At the invitation of the Honorable John
Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada."
During the visit, he is reported to have held a bilateral
meeting with the Canadian Foreign Minister, observed the proceedings of the
Lower House of the Parliament and inspected renovation of the new Burmese
Embassy building in Ottawa.
The two ministers also discussed on mutual interest
including promotion of Canadian investment and economic cooperation, providing
assistance in education, health, HRD, and granting of ODA, continuation of
humanitarian assistance, opening of the Canadian Embassy in Burma.
The Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) thinks it is
unnecessary — possibly unprecedented — for the Government of Canada
to keep such a ministerial visit secret, to which Burma's state-run newspaper
described as an "official visit" and the first time "in over 40
years."
Therefore, we urge the Government of Canada, especially
foreign affairs officials to be more transparent on policymaking on Burma.
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