Positive signs are emerging in Myanmar's national reconciliation
efforts with the latest positive responses from both the government
and political forces to the UN mediation, observers in Yangon said
Friday.
The Myanmar government has promised it will continue to carry
out democratic reform under its seven-step roadmap and strive for
national reconsolidation in cooperation with the United Nations,
according to state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar
Friday.
On Thursday, detained political party leader Aung San Suu Kyi
also issued a statement, expressing wishes to cooperate with the
government.
Besides, Myanmar Liaison Minister U Aung Kyi is due to meet with
Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon for the second time later on Friday.
United Nations Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari has just concluded
his second mission to Myanmar. During the period, he met with
Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein, SPDC First Secretary
Lieutenant-General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, the government's
four-minister spokes authoritative team, and others.
Gambari and Thein Sein had open and detailed discussions on ways
to further improve Myanmar's cooperation with the UN to address the
country's political, human rights, humanitarian and socioeconomic
challenges in the wake of the recent crisis, according to the UN
Information Center here.
During the envoy's previous visit in September-October following
widespread demonstrations by some monks and people, Myanmar top
leader Senior-General Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC), offered through Gambari on Oct. 2 a
conditional and direct personal talk with Aung San Suu Kyi.
As a follow-up, the government appointed Labor Minister U Aung
Kyi to act as Liaison Minister to get contact with Aung San Suu
Kyi. They then met on Oct. 25.
After meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi twice during his previous
visit to Myanmar, Gambari, who is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
's Special Adviser on Myanmar issues, met with Aung San Suu Kyi for
about an hour before concluding his second six-day tour to Myanmar
on Thursday afternoon.
He then read out Aung San Suu Kyi's statement on her behalf in
Singapore on Thursday evening, in which she pledged her readiness
to cooperate with the government, saying that "In the interest of
the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the government in order
to make this process of dialogue a success."
She said she looks forward to having further regular discussions
with the Liaison Minister U Aung Kyi, expecting the current phase
of preliminary consultations will conclude soon to pave way for a
start of a meaningful and timebound dialogue with the leadership of
the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) as early as
possible.
In view of the responses from both government and Aung San Suu
Kyi, observers here are optimistic that both parties have desires
of a dialogue, and agree to cooperate with the UN.
Meanwhile, Gambari has been invited by the government to visit
Myanmar again for the third time in the next few weeks to help
initiate a substantive dialogue and promote national
reconciliation, according to the UN Information Center here.
On Friday's scheduled second meeting with U Aung Kyi, Aung San
Suu Kyi will also be allowed to meet members of the NLD Central
Executive Committee (CEC) at her request, the official report
said.
Observers are expecting that Friday's scheduled meeting between
U Aung Kyi and Aung San Suu Kyi, and future other steps will
produce positive results that will contribute to the country's
national reconciliation.
(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2007)
