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Good Morning
Directors General from Ministry of Health
Ambassadors and Madams
Mr. Konoe, President of the Federation
President of Myanmar Red Cross Society and Executive Committee Members
Leaders of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from South East Asia Region
Heads of Delegations & Representative from IFRC and ICRC
Ladies and Gentlemen –
On behalf of the government of the Republic of Union of Myanmar, I am much honored to welcome you today and wish you all good health and happiness.
Indeed I am delighted to join you and deliver opening speech on this special occasion. “Thank you” Myanmar Red Cross for bringing together official representatives of ASEAN countries, President of the Federation, leaders of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Representatives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement here to make a remarkable humanitarian meeting happen in Nay Pyi Taw. It is my sincere hope that your presence today will serve as historic momentum for greater future cooperation in this region.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
History recalls that as one of the pioneers of regional integration in the world, ASEAN was established on the strong desire to establish peace, building consensus, promoting stability, through regional cooperation and integration. This is somehow link with the Federation Strategy 2020 emphasizing to promote non violence and peace culture globally. We realize that International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is responsible for responding to conflicts and disasters that may influence the image of the nations in sustaining peace and preventing violence in their territories.
Regarding this, Myanmar has clearly mentioned in the constitution, Article 387 mentioned that “Every citizen, with the Union Spirit, has the duty to enhance unity among national races and to ensure public peace and stability”. As Myanmar Red Cross is auxiliary to the government in humanitarian field, Red Cross Volunteers are helping the local authorities and providing effective humanitarian services in times of conflicts and disasters, this is somehow enhancing peace in the country by addressing basic needs of the communities and strengthening individual citizen capacity to maintain and sustain peace.
I am sure all of you recognize that the government of the Republic of Union of Myanmar has been practicing reform strategies to develop the country in various sectors including humanitarian sectors. The reform strategies also facilitate more cooperation and coordination among humanitarian actors and provide more access to people who are in need. At this moment Myanmar has a challenge to address not only to the needs of the vulnerable and disaster affected populations but also to implementing reform strategies to develop our country. The government also aware that donor countries and organizations have different priorities and objectives while receiver country has its own priorities. No doubt, we need to continue enhancing cooperation between nations, be it intra regional and/or inter regional.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
According to the recent statistics, between 2004 and 2010, there are 1042 disasters occurred in Asia and the Pacific Region and more than 200 million people were affected. Red Cross Red Crescent assistances reached to more than 28 million people, which is 14.29% of total affected population. I would like to convey my gratitude and pride to volunteers those helping people on the ground and the leaders those make it happen effectively and efficiently.
We recognized that the governments and Red Cross and Red Crescent leaders of this region expressed our continuing concern to address such serious potential crisis to our communities by closer cooperation a0nd coordination among ourselves.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Ministry of Health has a strong desire to see Myanmar Red Cross involvement in the development of ambulance services to reach to the village level, in strengthening health facilities to ensure good preparedness for health care in emergencies, and to participate in communicable and non communicable disease prevention and health education processes that will contribute to the National Health Plan. I am pleased to welcome the proposals that extend your support to fill these gaps and highly appreciate for being escalating your support to Myanmar Red Cross through Myanmar community during these years.
At the national level, the Government of the Republic of Union of Myanmar encourages programs which contribute to poverty reduction through enhancing local community capacity. As we are at the initial stage of reforms, the transition period needs many requirements. We believe we will become more and more efficient with the help of domestic and foreign organizations and experts.
Today, the trend of the Red Cross work emphasizing more on promoting community safety, resilience and development through preparedness and risk reduction actions in communities. It is recognized that this approach is valid to apply through National Societies in all ASEAN nations. I encourage you to keep on your agreed commitment to “Do more, Do better and Reach further” and strongly believed that the respective governments are aware of your tremendous efforts and appreciated all of you and the Movement always.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the dynamic and diverse ASEAN Region, in order to save people’s lives and protect their livelihoods, we still have to do a lot of things. We have to work hard empowering and enhancing communities to be better prepared and cope with existing and emerging, re-emerging crisis and disasters.
I trust that this meeting will find ways to further enhance Red Cross Red Crescent cooperation and coordination for better benefits of the ASEAN community in addressing such issues in the Region.
I would like to wish all of you have a fruitful and wonderful meeting in Nay Pyi Taw. Please, enjoy your stay in Myanmar and have a wonderful experience working with Myanmar Red Cross Society.
Thank you.
