Vatican and Myanmar agree to form diplomatic ties

Vatican City: The Vatican and Myanmar established full diplomatic relations on Thursday in the latest step in the former pariah Asian state’s rehabilitation by the international community.

The Vatican said it would appoint a papal nuncio to Yangon and that the country would open an embassy at the Vatican, formally wrapping up an accord approved by Myanmar in March. The move came as Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi met Pope Francis on the latest leg of a European tour overshadowed by her country’s treatment of the Rohingya, a persecuted minority Muslim group in the 90-percent Buddhist country. Ms Kuu Syi and a group of officials spent around 20 minutes with Pope.

Alfano said in a statement he had discussed the process of national reconciliation in the country formerly known as Burma, without elaborating. Francis denounced the treatment of the minority Rohingya in February, saying they were being tortured and killed for their faith. In an address in St Peter’s square he described the Rohingya as “good and peaceful people who have suffered for years,” urging Catholics to pray for their “brothers and sisters” in Myanmar.