MaximsNewsNetwork: BAN KI MOON on MYANMAR & AUNG SAN SUU KYI @ UN SECURITY COUNCIL STAKEOUT

MaximsNewsNetwork: 13 July 2009 - UNTV: United Nations Media Stakeout: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to hold a press stakeout following Security Council meeting on Myanmar.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefed Security Council members on his recent visit to Myanmar, where he called on authorities to immediately release all political prisoners and said the country's future must be rooted in respect for human rights. Mr. Ban spent two days in Myanmar earlier this month, meeting with Government officials as well as leaders of the countrys registered political parties, including the National League for Democracy (NLD). But authorities did not allow Mr. Ban to meet with opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently facing trial. The Secretary-General expressed disappointed at the refusal of the senior leadership to allow the meeting to take place and said that it was a major lost opportunity for Myanmar. He called on authorities to release all political prisoners including Ms. Suu Kyi without delay. Ban told the Council that before leaving Myanmar he had a chance to speak to a large and diverse audience in Myanmars capital Yangon. He said that his key note speech was an unprecedented opportunity to ask how much longer can Myanmar afford to wait and at what cost, for national reconciliation, democratic transition and full respect for human rights? The countrys Ambassador told todays Council meeting that the Government is taking steps to set up an amnesty for political prisoners so they can take part in national elections. It is not clear if the prisoners to be released will include Ms. Suu Kyi. U Than Swe said that his government intends to implement all appropriate recommendations the Secretary-General has proposed and at his request is processing to grant amnesty to prisoners on human rights humanitarian grounds, and to enable them to participate in the 2010 general elections. Speaking outside the Council meeting, Mr. Ban told journalists that the amnesty offer was encouraging but it was important to see how the announcement would be implemented. He added that the world is now watching closely whether the government of Myanmar will choose to act in the best interest of their country or not. In his speech to the Council, Mr. Ban also discussed humanitarian and development issues, noting the progress made in the joint recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Ayeyarwady Delta, the area of Myanmar hit hardest by Cyclone Nargis last year.

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News & Politics

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• Myanmar
• UN Security Council
• Ban Ki-moon
• Aung San Suu Kyi
• Burma
• UNTV
• MaximsNews Network