New Delhi
9 November 2007
United Nations (UN) Secretary General's envoy for Burma Ibrahim
Gambari has said that "we now have a process going" that he hoped will lead to
substantive dialogue between the Burmese junta and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Ms Suu Kyi, in turn, has said that she stands ready to cooperate with the Burmese junta
in order to make the process of dialogue a success and she welcomed the necessary
good offices role of the UN to help facilitate her efforts in this regard.
A statement issued in Yangon at the conclusion of Mr Gambari's November 3 to 8
mission to Burma Myanmar read: "As a result of the good offices role of the UN
Secretary-General and engagement with the government, the opposition and other
relevant parties, we are not where we were a few weeks ago. We now have a process
going which would lead to substantive dialogue between the government and Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi as a key instrument in promoting national reconciliation in an all-inclusive
manner. The sooner such a dialogue can start, the better for Myanmar."
The statement also said: "With the full support and confidence of the Government of
Myanmar and the international community, the United Nations will continue its
engagement with all relevant interlocutors inside and outside Myanmar to achieve the
goals which we all share: peace, prosperity, democracy and full respect for human rights
in Myanmar." The Burmese junta has invited Mr Gambari to revisit the country. "[He]
expects to do so in the next few weeks," the statement added.
Mr Gambari was authorised by Ms Suu Kyi to make a statement on her behalf. Issuing
the statement in Singapore, Mr Gambari said that Ms Suu Kyi expected that the "phase
of preliminary consultations will conclude soon so that a meaningful and timebound
dialogue with the SPDC leadership can start as early as possible."
"In the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the government in order to
make this process of dialogue a success and welcome the necessary good offices role
of the United Nations to help facilitate our efforts in this regard," Ms Suu Kyi said.
Her statement read: In full awareness of the essential role of political parties in
democratic societies, in deep appreciation of the sacrifices of the members of my party
and in my position as General Secretary, I will be guided by the policies and wishes of
the National League for Democracy. However, in this time of vital need for democratic
solidarity and national unity, it is my duty to give constant and serious considerations to
the interests and opinions of as broad a range of political organizations and forces as
possible, in particular those of our ethnic nationality races. To that end, I am committed
to pursue the path of dialogue constructively and invite the government and all relevant
parties to join me in this spirit."
"I believe that stability, prosperity and democracy for my country, living at peace with
itself and with full respect for human rights, offers the best prospect for my country to
fully contribute to the development and stability of the region in close partnership with its
neighbours and fellow ASEAN members, and to play a positive role as a respected
member of the international community," she added.
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