Myanmar peace accord to be signed on October 15

Nay Pyi Taw: The Myanmar government and eight ethnic armed groups on Sunday agreed to set October 15 for the formal signing of a nationwide ceasefire accord (NCA) in capital city Nay Pyi Taw.

The date for NCA signing at the Myanmar International Convention Centre here was fixed after talks between the government's Union Peace Making Work Committee (UPWC) and the eight armed groups out of a total 15, Xinhua news agecny reported.

A joint committee was formed after the talks for holding the NCA signing which comprises 10 members from the two sides. 

Before the set formal signing, a draft NCA was preliminarily signed between the UPWC and the ethnic groups' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) in March after conclusion of more than one year of negotiations.

Both sides are set to draw up a political framework within 60 days after the formal NCA signing and start a political dialogue within 90 days.

The peace process began in November 2013 when the UPWC and NCCT met in Myitgyina, Kachin state's capital, for the very first time for the nationwide ceasefire talks, while the final round, which was the ninth, was held in Yangon in August.