I am following the dramatic developments in Rakhine State and at the border region in Bangladesh closely. The European Union has raised its concerns as recently as last Friday in direct contacts with Myanmar government members.

As I stated in my statement a few days ago, the priority is now to obtain immediate humanitarian access again, and to address in parallel the root causes of the conflict by implementing the Annan Advisory Commission recommendations to this end. On both accounts we were reassured that there will be implementing steps this week, which I expect to happen.

We are in close contact with Bangladeshi authorities and are stepping up our humanitarian engagement there.