Myanmar Leader Pledges To Hold General Election In 2010

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=367209

YANGON, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Myanmar leader Lieutenant-General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo has pledged that the country will spare no efforts to hold the general election in 2010, said Xinhua news agency quoting a report in Saturday's official newspaper New Light of Myanmar.

Tin Aung Myint Oo, First Secretary of the State Peace and Development Council, made the pledge at a ceremony marking the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations Day in Nay Pyi Taw Friday evening.

Touching on Myanmar's recent political development, he said the country has achieved some significant progress in recent months as positive outcome of the implementation of a seven-step roadmap to democracy.


It is paving way for the fifth step of the seven-step roadmap which is for a multi-party general election to take place in 2010 after the already-concluded national convention in September last year and the national referendum on draft of a new constitution in May 2008.

Dealing with relations with the UN, he said cooperation with the world body is the cornerstone of Myanmar's foreign policy, adding that the country has consistently cooperated with it in various fields, citing the visits of several senior UN officials including that of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in May 2008.

He also underlined the relief and rehabilitation efforts made in full cooperation with ASEAN-led coordination mechanism, the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), which has brought together the government of Myanmar, the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Appreciating the role the TCG in effectively coordinating the relief and recovery efforts between Myanmar and the international community, he expressed belief that the mechanism will be able to lay down longer-term recovery plan too.

With regard to globalisation issue of facing diverse problems and daunting challenges in this era, he said no nation can act alone, maintaining that the UN should and could do more for the benefit of mankind through collective strength.

-- BERNAMA