UN Chief May Not Visit Burma in December

By LALIT K JHA / United Nations

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has cast doubt on a tentatively scheduled trip to Burma in December, saying so far he sees no tangible progress in achieving UN-mandated goals.

The secretary-general, in a press conference at UN headquarters in New York, said he would visit Burma only when he sees the possibility of achieving progress toward the goals the UN has set and is certain his visit would yield tangible results.

Ban said he does not see those conditions right now, and he is unlikely to visit Burma under the present circumstances.

"As to my visit, when I said I will be personally engaged, that meant that I would be willing to pay a return visit to Myanmar at an appropriate time,” he said. “But you should also know that without any tangible or very favorable results to be achieved, I may not be in a position to visit Myanmar without any expectations."

Ban, who has organized several meetings during the General Assembly session of the UN including ministerial-level meeting of the Friends of the Secretary General on Burma, said he is studying the possibility of a visit.

"I am now in the process of making some groundwork, which may allow me to consider my own visit. But at this time, I need some more time. I will have to consider all the circumstances—when would be an appropriate time for me to visit," he said.

Such a statement by the secretary-general could be considered a major setback for the military junta, since a visit by Ban would enhance their credibility. It was during the last visit of Ibrahim Gambari, the special UN envoy on Burma, that it was announced that Ban would make a second trip to Burma in December.

Ban’s first visit was in May in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis when he visited the Irrawaddy delta. His talks with top Burmese officials were restricted to humanitarian relief efforts.

The secretary-general, however, said he is committed to ensure that things move in a positive direction in Burma.

"On this [Burma], you have my firm commitment and assurances that I will be constantly and personally engaged—at my level and through my special adviser Mr Gambari's engagement with the Myanmar authorities," Ban said.

Gambari last visited Burma in August, which many considered a failed mission. He failed to meet with either Sen-Gen Than Shwe or opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"I have convened for the first time this high-level meeting where many countries were represented at the ministerial, foreign ministers, level. It was very encouraging," Ban said, referring to the ministerial-level meeting of 14 Friends of the Secretary-General on Burma.

"There was firm support for the continuing good offices role of the secretary-general, and also Gambari's engagement there. That will continue," Ban said.

"There was again strong commitment from the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General that they will provide whatever necessary assistance and cooperation to enable that," he said.

The secretary-general said there was strong support from UN member nations that it is up to the Burmese government to implement fully the democratization process and also release all political prisoners.