New Delhi
23 October 2007
The special adviser to the United Nations secretary-general on
Burma, Mr Ibrahim Gambari, on Tuesday said that India and other countries in the region
could do more to improve the situation in that country.
India responded to his call by stating that she will continue to play a constructive and
positive role but maintaining nevertheless that her multi-dimensional linkages with
Burma must be borne in mind while dealing with the crisis.
Mr Gambari called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Minister of External Affairs
Pranab Mukherjee. He also held discussions with Foreign Secretary Shivshankar
Menon.
He delivered a message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Prime Minister
Singh and briefed New Delhi on developments since his last visit to Burma.
The envoy told reporters that he was encouraged by India's response and by an
undertaking given by India to do everything possible to encourage Burma to continue
cooperation with the international community and to deliver tangible results.
He had a word of praise for China, where is headed to next. China encouraged Burma to
receive him at the height of the recent crisis and allowed him to stay longer than
anticipated. He was counting on China to work with Burmese authorities to achieve
desired results.
He said that the UN's efforts might not produce immediate results but he noted with
appreciation that Burma was responding step-by-step to the demands made by the
international community.
He said that the a liaison officer has been appointed to facilitate the Burmese military
junta and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to begin a dialogue. The gap is
narroeing, he said, but hoped that all concerned could move from a position of talking
about talks to actually talking with one another.
Mr Gambari said that he would revisit Burma early next month. He was initially expected
to travel to Burma in the second or third week of November but his request for an early
visit has been accepted by the Burmese authorities.
He said that the Burmese authorities had also agreed to receive Paulo Sergio Pinheiro,
who was appointed as the UN independent expert on human rights in Burma, next
month.
India, for her part, maintained that as a close and friendly neighbour, she has multi-
dimensional linkages with Burma. Consequently, initiatives should be mindful of the
need for a peaceful and stable Burma.
"India will continue to play a constructive and positive role, along with like-minded
countries, to this end," the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Prime Minister Singh expressed India's support for the UN Secretary-General's ongoing
efforts to encourage a resumption of the dialogue process within Burma. He expressed
satisfaction that Mr Gambari would be returning to Burma very soon to carry his
discussions forward.
Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, in turn, told Mr Gambari about his meeting
with Burmese Foreign Minister U Nyan Win in New York on the sidelines of the UN
General Assembly.
Mr Mukherjee reiterated the the need for expediting the implementation of the political
reform and national reconciliation process in Burma so that the concerns of the
international community are addressed.
He also emphasised that this process should be broad-based to include all sections of
society. He also mentioned that the UN good offices should facilitate the political reform
process in a constructive way, through an integrated and comprehensive approach.
The UN envoy arrived in India after touring Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and
SIngapore. He will hold visit Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday before travelling to
Japan.
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