UNSC adopts first-ever resolution on Myanmar

Diplomatic Correspondent :
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday adopted the first-ever resolution on the situation in Myanmar placing an important focus on the Rohingya crisis and its sustainable solution.
Referring to the ongoing political unrest in Myanmar, continuous deterioration of its democratic institutions and arbitrary detention of political leaders, the resolution, among others, urges for ending violence and inclusive political dialogue.
The resolution was adopted with 12 of the 15 members of the UNSC in favor, while India, China, and Russia abstained, but no members of the Council voted against or used veto power to block its adoption. The United Kingdom tabled the resolution.
In the context of multifaceted global challenges including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the resolution is a demonstration of the UN’s supreme body’s determination towards resolving the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations said the statement on Thursday.
This resolution will further renew the attention of the global community towards the Rohingya crisis.
Since the exodus of Rohingyas in Bangladesh in 2017, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the position of Bangladesh clear to the international community that they must return to their homeland in Myanmar from their temporary shelter in Bangladesh.
It may be mentioned that Bangladesh is now hosting more than 1.2 million Rohingyas out of humanitarian consideration.
Apart from this, the resolution commends Bangladesh’s efforts for hosting and providing humanitarian support to the Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
It also recognizes the implications of the current political situation in Myanmar on the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya to Myanmar and on regional security. It underscores the need to address the root causes of the crisis in Rakhine State, and to create conditions necessary for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees.
The resolution also puts significant focus on ASEAN’s role in implementing its Five Point Consensus agreed in 2021, Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York said.
As an immediate action, the resolution requests the UN Secretary-General and his Special Envoy on Myanmar to submit a report, on the possible support from the UN on the implementation of ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus, by 15 March 2023 to the Security Council.
The adoption of the resolution will serve as a first step to the regular discussion of the Security Council on Myanmar.
It will also strengthen Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts towards a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
The Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York made significant contributions to the negotiations of the resolution.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York, Muhammad Abdul Muhith held several bilateral meetings with the strategically important members of the Council and ensured that issues specific to Bangladesh’s interest were included in the resolution.
 This resolution bears testimony of Bangladesh’s milestone success in multilateral efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
Meanwhile, Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State in a press release on Thursday welcomed the UN Security Council’s adoption of Resolution 2669 on Myanmar (Burma), saying it is an important step of the Security Council to address the crisis and to end the Myanmar military regime’s escalating repression and violence against civilians.
“It is a strong message from the international community that the regime must end its violence across the country, release arbitrarily detained prisoners, allow unhindered humanitarian access, protect members of minority groups, and respect the will and democratic aspirations of the people of Burma,” he added.
“The Council still has much more work to do to advance a just solution to the crisis in Burma. The Security Council should leverage this opportunity to seek additional ways to promote a return to the path of democracy, advance accountability for the regime’s actions, and support ASEAN’s efforts to achieve meaningful implementation of the Five Point Consensus,” he added.
“We remain committed to working with the UN and our international partners, including ASEAN, to end the violence in Burma and seek a peaceful reconciliation to the crisis.”
The British-drafted resolution expresses “deep concern” at the “ongoing state of emergency imposed by the military in Myanmar on 1 February 2021 and its grave impact on the people of Myanmar.”
It condemns the military’s execution of pro-democracy activists, urges the military to “immediately release all arbitrarily detained prisoners,” including deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and demands an “immediate end to all forms of violence throughout the country.”