H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, held a meeting here on Mar. 31 with visiting H.E. Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Myanmar.
It was their second meeting after the first one on Dec. 13 last year.
According to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, both sides exchanged views and discussed on the close cooperation between ASEAN-UN as well as between the two Envoys.
Deputy PM Prak Sokhonn opened the discussion by briefing his interlocutor on his activities, challenges and outcomes of his meeting with many relevant stakeholders during his first visit to Myanmar on Mar. 21-23, 2022, with a stress on three urgent priorities, namely: making steps toward ending violence, facilitating the distribution of humanitarian assistance, and building trust and enabling environment to start an inclusive and constructive dialogue among all parties concerned.
The Deputy PM said that his visit was generally welcomed and considered as a significant step forward in the implementation of the 5PC, underlining that during the past two days, he has gained a lot of knowledge that is very relevant for the way forward in ending violence, in further understanding the many reasons behind the difference of opinion and positions among the concerned parties, as well as the need to address obstacles in delivering humanitarian assistance.
Deputy PM Prak Sokhonn also touched on the challenges, underlining that the different political actors of Myanmar are not ready for talks and are still strongly determined to continue their struggles in all manifestations, especially through armed struggle. It is obvious there is no quick fix to problems that are so deeply rooted in the country, in the society, in the mind of people, he continued.
H.E. Prak Sokhonn make known to Dr. Heyzer the three steps of his next moves as the Special Envoy. First, the preparation and the convening of the consultative meeting on humanitarian assistance (HA) that is planned in early May to exchange views with different stakeholders on how to effectively deliver HA to those most in need without discrimination. The 2nd step will be the planned videoconference between Samdech Techo PM Hun Sen and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing while the 3rd one will be his second visit to Myanmar, he continued.
Deputy PM Prak Sokhonn and Dr. Heyzer discussed at length the holding of consultative meeting on HA and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the smooth and safe process of assistance delivery. In this regard, the UN Special Envoy assured the Deputy PM of the UN’s full support and engagement. Both Special Envoys also discussed the role that can be played by some regional countries and the international community as a whole in finding the settlement to the Myanmar crisis.
As far as the ASEAN-UN cooperation is concerned, the two Envoys shared the same view to work together in helping Myanmar to get out of the crisis through the ASEAN’s 5PC. The Deputy PM and the UN’s Envoy also discussed the each other complementary format to be carried out by both ASEAN and UN and by the two Envoys in a step by step process, starting by the distribution of humanitarian assistance.
Dr. Heyzer acknowledged the difficulties facing Cambodia as the current ASEAN Chair and appreciated the endeavours by Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen and Deputy PM Prak Sokhonn in opening the way for the process of finding solution to Myanmar crisis.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press