October 16, 2015•Update: October 16, 2015
ANKARA
Turkey has welcomed a cease-fire agreement between Myanmar’s government and eight rebel militias, congratulating each for their "compromising attitude".
A press release issued by Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Friday said that it hoped all armed groups in the country still to sign will eventually come to the table.
"The agreement in Myanmar, which is a sign to end one of the longest conflicts the world, paves the way for an inclusive political dialogue," it added.
On Thursday, President Thein Sein signed the accord in an attempt to bring an end to conflict with over a dozen ethnic groups who have been fighting for greater autonomy from central authorities for decades.
Sein -- a reformist former general installed by the junta in 2011 -- has repeatedly promised a nationwide cease-fire agreement before a general election on Nov. 8.
However, neither the 10,000-strong Kachin Independence Army nor heavily armed Wa rebels in eastern Shan state joined the accord, leading to some analysts to brand the agreement a failure.
Many refused to sign because the government had denied their allies a place at the negotiating table.
The groups that did sign will now be removed from a list of “terrorist groups”, enabling them greater freedom of movement.
According to estimates, the groups that signed represent 16,000 fighters, while there are 48,000 under the command of groups that refused to sign.
