EU wants UN envoy to visit Myanmar to seek Aung's release

EU wants UN envoy to visit Myanmar to seek Aung's release

BRUSSELS - THE EU's special envoy for Myanmar on Friday called for UN mediator Ibrahim Gambari to be allowed to make another visit as soon as possible, with the release of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as a top priority.
'Gambari must be allowed to return to Myanmar as soon as possible with the possibility of obtaining new concrete results,' Italian EU envoy Piero Fassino told reporters after talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
'He should concentrate his actions on working for the liberation of Aung San Suu Kyi and the main detained political leader'," he said.
The UN Security Council on Thursday bemoaned the slow progress in initiating democratic reforms in Myanmar and also pressed for an early visit to the country by UN mediator Gambari.
The 15 council members said they regretted the 'slow rate of progress' towards objectives they set out last October, a month after Myanmar's military junta crushed the biggest pro-democracy protests in nearly 20 years.
Mr Gambari has visited Myanmar twice since the bloody military crackdown in September on peaceful protests led by Buddhist monks.
He has asked to return to Myanmar this month but was told by authorities there that an April visit would be more convenient.
'We think the visit should take place before that,' said Mr Fassino.
He said that if Mr Gambari is allowed to return quickly to Myanmar and in light of any results he achieves there 'we will see what needs to be done' as far as easing EU sanctions is concerned.
'The sanctions are an instrument to obtain the opening of a dialogue not a goal in themselves,' he added, stressing that any move towards a national dialogue and democratic principles would be gradual.
Mr Fassino also stressed the important role to be played by China, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states in securing change in Myanmar. -- AFP

News from The Straits Times (19 Jan 2008)