Envoy Says UN Needs to Strengthen its Mission in Myanmar

While in Singapore, the Special Envoy has been meeting with regional leaders who have gathered for the annual summit of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Ibrahim Gambari Photo courtesy: United Nations

(RANGOON, Myanmar) - The United Nations Special Envoy for Myanmar said today that the good offices role of the Secretary-General would need to be “beefed up in terms of its effectiveness,” in case dialog between the Government and the opposition in the troubled South-East Asian nation intensifies.

“The Myanmar authorities have said that they preferred to work with the UN. Now we have to test that to its limits in the high interest of the Myanmar people,” Ibrahim Gambari told reporters in Singapore.

Mr. Gambari added that those who support the Secretary-General’s good offices role should encourage the Government of Myanmar to cooperate “fully, regularly and substantively” with the UN.

While in Singapore, the Special Envoy has been meeting with regional leaders who have gathered for the annual summit of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN). He said that his visit had been “extremely worthwhile” and had provided a tremendous opportunity to meet so many delegations and leaders.

Story continues below

Today he met with the Prime Ministers of Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand, the Foreign Ministers of Japan and Australia and the European Union Commissioner for External Relations.

Mr. Gambari, who has visited Myanmar twice since the Government began its crackdown against demonstrators a few months ago, will now travel to Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam for further consultations before returning to New York.

Reports From Iraq

Salem-News.com Top Stories
Paul Kagame: A General Without Generals

---

No Parades for Iraq Vets=No Decisive Victory

---

Mexican Workers Pulverized in the 21st Century

---

The Arab Revolt and the Imperialist Counterattack

---

IMF Won't Substantiate 'Arab Spring' Spending, Downplays Military Spending

---

Name:

Enter the text from the image to confirm you are human.(Cookies are required)

HTML tags and certain characters are removed - (numbers, letters only or post may be cut short.) certain words are banned to stop spammers. All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.