NAY PYI TAW, 19 Feb-The following is the full text of the concluding remarks delivered by Chairman of the Commission for Drafting the State Constitution Chief Justice U Aung Toe at the meeting No 17/2008 of the commission.

Members of the Commission for Drafting the State Constitution, I wish you physical and spiritual well-being.

The State Peace and Development Council is implementing the State's seven-step Road Map for building a discipline-flourishing modern and developed democratic nation. In this regard, the emergence of a constitution is essential in the process. With this concept, the State Peace and Development Council formed a 54-member Commission for Drafting the State Constitution under Announcement No 2/2007 dated 18 October 2007. The commission members included those who are well-experienced persons who went through the previous two constitutions of Myanmar, and some members are the ones who are well-versed in local and international laws. Moreover, some are those out of the over 1000 delegates who represented the entire people at the National Convention that was convened in 1993.

The Commission for Drafting the State Constitution, upholding the six objectives of the National Convention of the State:

* Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration of national solidarity, Perpetuation of sovereignty;

* Flourishing of a genuine multi-party democracy system;

* Further burgeoning of the noblest and worthiest of worldly values such as justice, liberty and equality; and

* For the Tatmadaw to be able to participate in the national political leadership role of the future State, started to draft the constitution on 3 December 2007 in accordance with the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles the National Convention had adopted unanimously. While the National Convention was in progress, the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles were aired on TV and radio, and stated in the newspapers for public information. Furthermore, a book featuring the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles has been published.

In endeavouring to draft the constitution, the commission made suggestions and decisions by holding group-wise meetings, and plenary meetings many times.

The commission members drafted the constitution making corrections to legal terms, dictation and sentences, as necessary without infringing the objectives, aims and essence of the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles. I was very pleased with the fact that at the group-wise meetings and plenary meetings, the commission members were very active and enthusiastic in submitting their opinions and making suggestions with positive attitude.

Now, the State Constitution has been drafted successfully due to the fact that all commission members worked hard and applied their experiences and legal knowledge to the best of their ability. I would like to reiterate that the commission members deserve honour because they have shouldered a national duty with nationalistic fervour and national awareness for emergence of an enduring State constitution that can guarantee sustainable progress of the nation.

In drafting the constitution, all the commission members reached agreement after holding discussions and making suggestions many times. Therefore, I hereby announce that now the commission approves the draft of the State Constitution.

The State Peace and Development Council issued Announcement No 1/2008 dated 9 February 2008, saying that the approval of the draft of the State Constitution would be sought in a referendum in May 2008 in accordance with the fourth step of the Road Map so as to practise the multi-party democracy system, as aspired by the people.

In conclusion, I would like to urge all members of the commission to do your bit together with the people in holding the forthcoming referendum to approve the State Constitution.