YANGON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) has implied to join in signing the Myanmar government's Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) and take part in the peace process, Myanmar News Agency reported Thursday.
According to U Zaw Htay, Director-General of the Union Peace Implementation Department, an unofficial meeting between the government's Peace Commission and the KNPP was held in Yangon Wednesday with open discussions.
The two sides agreed to hold an official meeting on KNPP's intent which is expected by late March or early April with the KNPP proposing the meeting venue as in Loikaw, the capital of Kayah state.
KNPP signed the state level bilateral agreement six years ago, while Wednesday's meeting was the first ever between the new government, led by the National League for Democracy (NLD), and the KNPP.
On Feb. 13, the incumbent government and two ethnic armed groups - the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) signed the NCA, bringing the total of such signatories to 10 since the first signing with eight armed groups in 2015 during the previous government.
Following the 2015 initiation of the NCA, the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conferences were held twice during the incumbent government in August 2016 and May 2017 respectively.
The third meeting of the Panglong Peace Conference is set for April/May for further discussion of unfinished fundamental principles on federalism as well as the formulation of new principles.