MYITKYINA, Burma – Visiting refugee camps in Burma's northernmost state of Kachin on Friday (May 31st), Minister Aung Min from the President's Office said internally displaced people could return home soon, The Irrawaddy reported.

"You have to be prepared to take part in the national development process because yesterday we signed a preliminary agreement that will reduce military tensions in northern Burma and lead to further progress towards reaching a peace deal," he said, referring to a preliminary peace agreement struck between the Burmese government and ethnic Kachin rebels.

UN Special Envoy Vijay Nambiar and Myint Soe, a senior army official who oversees military operations in Kachin State, accompanied the minister.

Nearly 100,000 people have been displaced by two years of fighting.

Under the agreement reached Thursday after three days of talks, fighting will stop and further talks will be held on Kachin demands for more political rights and greater autonomy, VOA reported.