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)