UAE and Myanmar to establish diplomatic ties

The countries agree to discuss plight of Rohingya Muslims

Women with decorative umbrellas dressed in local attire stand outside the Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar. Getty

The UAE and Myanmar have agreed to establish diplomatic relations and open channels to discuss the issue of the Rohingya Muslim minority, the official Emirati news agency Wam reported on Tuesday.

Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE's Permanent Representative to the UN, signed a communique to establish the ties with her counterpart from Myanmar, Kyaw Moe Tun, in New York.

“They discussed the situation of the Rohingya and the need for opening channels of communication on an issue that is a matter of priority for the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation,” the agency said. The UAE chairs the OIC.

Ms Nusseibeh said the UAE was keen to work with Myanmar "to unlock future partnerships in serving the aspirations of the region's countries and peoples".

It said the UAE had donated five tonnes of medical aid to fight coronavirus and ensured that "Myanmar citizens residing in the UAE were able to cast their ballots" in the general elections in their country this week.

Myanmar’s ruling party said it achieved a resounding victory on Monday in the second parliamentary election since the end of strict military rule, based on its own unofficial tally of votes.

Sunday's election was viewed as a referendum on the democratic government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy, whose reputation overseas was undermined by accusations that treatment of the Rohingya was a genocide.