Secretary-General’s press encounter after High-Level Meeting of Group of Friends of Myanmar

New York, 27 September 2010 – 
Secretary-General’s press encounter after High-Level Meeting of Group of Friends of Myanmar
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you very much for your participation.
Today, I convened the third meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar at the level of Foreign Ministers.
We reviewed developments in the country and discussed ways to intensify our common efforts to help the Government and people of Myanmar achieve a successful transition towards a credible civilian and democratic government.
The coming months will be critical for Myanmar, as the country prepares for its first-ever elections in two decades.
Members of the Group expressed their encouragement, concerns and expectations regarding the current process.
They clearly reiterated the need for the election process to be more inclusive, participatory and transparent.
Members called for steps to be taken for the release of political detainees, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
This is essential for the elections to be seen as credible and to contribute to Myanmar’s stability and development.
The Group further reiterated their commitment to work together to help Myanmar address its political, humanitarian and development challenges, in parallel and with equal attention.
The Group also reaffirmed unity of purpose and action to encourage Myanmar to make further efforts towards national reconciliation and democracy.
I welcome the renewed support expressed by the Group to my good offices.
At this critical stage in Myanmar’s transition, it is all the more important that the Group, and especially Myanmar’s neighbours, encourages Myanmar to engage meaningfully with my good offices.
The Group encourages the Government of Myanmar to adopt a more constructive and forward-looking approach in its response to the international community’s call for engagement.
As Secretary-General, I remain personally committed to work in partnership with the Government and people of Myanmar to advance these objectives.
Thank you very much.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, first of all, through your contacts with the Myanmar Government – the Foreign Minister was here – did they try to convey to you anything that they will do from now on to the day of the election?
SG: I conveyed my strong wish and expectation that this election should be conducted in a fair, transparent and inclusive manner. And I took note of the fact that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi voting right was registered in their bulletin and also I urged them to release all political detainees, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, that is the way to make this election inclusive and participatory. And I am going to continue my dialogue with the Myanmese authorities when I visit Hanoi to participate in ASEAN and the UN Summit meeting. I’m sure that I will have an opportunity to engage with the Myanmar authorities there.
Q: The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar has called for a Commission of Inquiry into possible crimes against humanity by the Government of Myanmar. Several of the Friends have also supposedly joined that call. What do you think of that call? And, also, is your Chief of Staff, Vijay Nambiar, is he able to get into Myanmar, if he so requests? And if so, why hasn’t he gone?
SG: I have taken note of that report – this is the report of a Special Rapporteur that I have just taken note of. This is something which needs to be decided, determined by the Member States. I do not have any comment at this time on that particular point.
Q: What about your Chief of Office being able to visit the country or not, can he visit or not?
SG: We have been trying to visit, somehow this year, it has not been possible. I expressed my regret about that fact.
Q: You expressed your disappointment regarding the end of the moratorium from the Israeli side. Are you going to do something in order to revive [inaudible]? We know you received the Israeli Foreign Minister, but what are you going to do more than that? Thank you.
SG: You have already seen my statement in which I have expressed my disappointment, despite the Quartet’s call, and the whole international community’s expectations. I conveyed the same message to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister [Avigdor] Liberman of Israel this afternoon, to whom I have asked to convey this message to the leadership of Israel, and I have also spoken with Senator [George] Mitchell who would be going to visit the region today. I offered my willingness to do whatever I can and I am going to continue to engage myself with Arab leaders and other Israeli concerned leaders, as much as I can.
I have taken note of the position, the statement made by President [Mahmoud] Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, and as I know that there is going to be a ministerial meeting of the Arab [inaudible], a follow up committee meeting in Cairo on 4 October, I sincerely hope that there could be some way out so that the peace process could continue without any interruptions.