UN envoy stresses need to lift restrictions on political detainees

6 November 2007 – Continuing his consultations with the authorities in Myanmar, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser today again stressed the need for dialogue between the country’s leadership and the opposition, and urged that all restrictions on political detainees, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, be lifted as a critical first step.

Ibrahim Gambari, who arrived in the country on Saturday, held meetings today in the capital, Nay Pi Taw, with the State Peace and Development Council Authoritative Team, composed of various ministers including those for foreign affairs, information, culture, and labour.

“Mr. Gambari and his counterparts had very frank and extensive exchanges on all of the issues being addressed in the context of the Secretary-General’s good offices,” UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters in New York.

They includes the need for a dialogue to start without delay between the SPDC leadership and Ms. Suu Kyi – a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has been under house arrest for more than 11 of the past 17 years – as an indispensable part of any national reconciliation process, and the lifting of restrictions on all political detainees as the necessary steps to that end.

Mr. Gambari also met with the Minister for Planning and Economic Development, U Soe Tha, to discuss future cooperation between the Government and the UN Country Team in Myanmar.

Last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a letter to the UN that it does not want UN Resident Coordinator Charles Petrie to continue working in Myanmar, citing a statement released by the UN Country Team – headed by Mr. Petrie – which referred to socio-economic issues in Myanmar.

In addition, the Special Adviser met with the Minister for Religious Affairs, Brigadier-General Thura Myint Maung, to discuss the Government’s response to the participation of monks in the recent demonstrations.

During the remainder of his visit, Mr. Gambari is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Lieutenant-General Thein Sein, among others, and will also brief the diplomatic corps on his mission so far.

In Yangon, he is expected to meet Ms. Suu Kyi, the Central Executive Committee of the National League for Democracy, officials of the National Unity Party, and other relevant interlocutors, as well as the UN Country Team and the International Committee for the Red Cross.

In a related development, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar has been invited by the authorities to visit the country from 11 to 15 November.

Welcoming the invitation, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro notes that this sends a positive indication of Myanmar’s willingness to cooperate with his mandate and the UN Human Rights Council.

Special envoy tackles relations between Myanmar and UN country team

5 November 2007 – The Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari, continued his visit to Myanmar today with discussions on future cooperation between the Government and the United Nations Country Team, after authorities last week declared they did not want the world body’s top official in the South-East Asian nation to continue his service.

Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a letter to the world body last week that it does not want UN Resident Coordinator Charles Petrie to continue working in Myanmar. It cited a statement released by the UN Country Team – headed by Mr. Petrie – on 24 October which referred to socio-economic issues in Myanmar.

Mr. Gambari took up the issue today when he met with Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, their second meeting in as many days. During their meeting yesterday, they discussed the Government’s response so far to the expectations of the international community following the recent crisis.

Upon his arrival in Myanmar on Saturday, Mr. Gambari met with Mr. Petrie and conveyed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s support for the Country Team and the Resident Coordinator, and the important work they continue to do to improve the socio-economic and humanitarian situation.

On Sunday, he met with U Aung Kyi, Minister for Labour and Minister for Relations, who was recently appointed by Myanmar authorities as a liaison officer to start dialogue between the Government and the opposition.

They had an extensive and detailed exchange about the Minister’s discussions with detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on an agreed framework for meaningful dialogue.

Mr. Gambari is scheduled to meet Ms. Suu Kyi and other relevant interlocutors, as well as the Prime Minister and other senior government officials, during his current visit, which is a follow-up to his last mission in October aimed at promoting democratization, the protection of human rights and national reconciliation.

UN envoy begins discussions with senior Myanmar officials

United Nations Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari has returned to Myanmar where he has begun talks with senior officials on speeding up the process of democratization and national reconciliation in the troubled South-East Asian nation.

Mr. Gambari met today with Foreign Minister U Nyan Win to discuss the Government of Myanmar's response, so far, to the expectations of the international community following the recent crisis, according to a press release issued by the UN in Yangon.

He also met with U Aung Kyi, Minister for Labour and Minister for Relations, who was recently appointed by Myanmar authorities as a liaison officer to start dialogue between the Government and the opposition.

The two has “extensive and detailed exchanges” on the Minister's discussions with pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on an agreed framework for meaningful dialogue, the press release stated.

Mr. Gambari “expects that these initial steps will lead to early initiation of dialogue aimed at accelerating inclusive national reconciliation, the restoration of democracy and the full respect for human rights.”

Upon his arrival yesterday, Mr. Gambari met UN Resident Coordinator Charles Petrie, who briefed him on the UN Country Team's assessment of the situation in the country. They also discussed the letter from the Government stating that it does not want Mr. Petrie to continue his work in the country.

Mr. Gambari conveyed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's support for the Country Team and the Resident Coordinator – the highest ranking UN official in the Myanmar – and the important work they continue to do to improve the socio-economic and humanitarian situation.

The Special Advisor plans to address this and other issues pertaining to further cooperation and dialogue between the UN system and Myanmar in his discussions with the authorities.

During his visit, Mr. Gambari is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister and other senior government officials, as well as Ms. Suu Kyi and other relevant interlocutors, according to UN officials. He will stay in Myanmar as long as necessary to accomplish his mission.