The United States will not put pressure or any ethnic armed organization (EAO) that is yet sign to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), according to an EAO report that came out following that meeting with US ambassador Scott Marciel in Rangoon on Tuesday, 3 October.

“The US embassy wants to inform stakeholders its action and intention to support the ongoing peace process,” he was quoted as saying. “It will support the building of a federal union and most assistance will be done under USAID program. Furthermore, it will not put any pressure on any group that has not signed the NCA.”

The statement appears to be in response to media reports late last month that he, during a visit to Kachin State capital Myitkyina, had urged the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/KIA) to sign the NCA with Naypyitaw, says the report.

“The United States wants to keep an open and transparent relationship with all sides,” he added.

Mr Marciel is also scheduled to meet students, youth groups, professional groups and think tank groups.

He expressed concern over ongoing fighting and difficulty in delivering humanitarian assistance to IDPs, and would raise these issues with the Burmese authorities, he said.

The meeting’s co-host was Lt-Gen Anthony Crutchfield, Deputy Commander of US Pacific Command, who reportedly explained that arms embargo would remain in place, and military to military relations would focus on promotion of rule of law and civilian rule.

9 EAO representatives, 4 representing non-signatories and 9 representing signatories, had attended the 2 hour long meeting.