28/01/2011

Myanmar makes a point of order because the United States uses the term "Burmese"

The delegation of Myanmar made a point of order during its review in the Universal Periodic Review after the Ambassador of the United States, H.E. Ms. Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, referred to them as the "Burmese delegation". The delegate of Myanmar asked the Ambassador to use the name of the country which is officially recognized by the United Nations (UN).

Before the United States made its statement, the Czech Republic used the term "Burma/Myanmar" which led the President of the Human Rights Council to encourage delegations to use proper UN terminology.

During his introductory statement, H.E Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Ambassador of Myanmar, had already emphasized that "the name of [their] country [was] Myanmar".