UN chief says envoy had good talks in Myanmar

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By EDITH M. LEDERER – 16 hours ago

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday his envoy to Myanmar had good talks in the military-ruled Southeast Asian country, and the world body's chief again urged the government and opposition to quickly resume talks.

Ban said at a news conference that he looks forward to building on special envoy Ibrahim Gambari's recent visit "with a view to further promoting national dialogue and reconciliation."

Gambari met with Myanmar's prime minister, Gen. Thein Sein, as well as detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a four-day trip that ended earlier this month. But he did not meet with the junta's chief, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, as he did on three previous visits.



Gambari "had good discussions there even though one may not be totally satisfied," Ban said.

"I would again call on government and opposition to resume substantive dialogue without preconditions and without further delay," the secretary-general added.

Myanmar's current military leadership came to power in 1988, when the country was known as Burma, after crushing a nationwide pro-democracy movement. It held elections in 1990 but refused to honor the results after Suu Kyi's party won a landslide victory. It tolerates virtually no dissent.

State television reported after Gambari's visit that the prime minister gave the U.N. envoy a cold reception, telling him the world body should lift economic sanctions and visa bans if it wants to see political stability.

Western nations, including the United States, impose economic and political sanctions on Myanmar because of its poor human rights record and failure to restore democracy.
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