Detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stated on Thursday her readiness to cooperate with the Government of Burma.
This comes as United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari wrapped up a visit to the troubled Asian nation by voicing confidence that substantive dialogue between authorities and the opposition can begin soon.
– 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 in a statement delivered to Mr. Gambari.
A Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Ms. Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for four years, and has spent 11 years in detention since her party – the National League for Democracy – and its allies won the 1990 election with over 80 per cent of the parliamentary seats.
Ms. Suu Kyi recently held discussions with U Aung Kyi, Minister for Labour and Minister for Relations, who was appointed by the Burman authorities as a liaison officer to start dialogue between the Government and the opposition.
HÅB OM FREMSKRIDT
Describing their first meeting as “constructive,” she said she expects that this phase of preliminary consultations will conclude soon so that a meaningful and time-bound dialogue can start as early as possible.
Also Thursday, the Government announced its decision to allow Ms. Suu Kyi to meet with the leaders of her party Friday.
– 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, Mr. Gambari said in his own statement.
REELLE FORBEDRINGER PÅKRÆVET
While in Burma, Mr. Gambari held talks with senior Government officials on accelerating the process of national reconciliation, the restoration of democracy and full respect for human rights.
He has stressed that returning to the status quo before the recent crisis broke out would not be sustainable.
Mr. Gambari will now return to New York, where he will brief the Secretary-General on his mission.
He has been invited by the Government to return to Burma and expects to do so in the next few weeks, a spokesperson for the world body said.
Kilde: www.un.org
