Mizzima News

New Delhi: The United Nations Security Council on Thursday said it regrets Burma's slow progress in initiating a dialogue with the opposition. It called on special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to work for an early return to the country to help generate momentum in the process of national reconciliation.

In a press statement released on Thursday, the Council "underscored the importance of further progress, noting that an early visit to Myanmar by Mr. Gambari could help facilitate this."

Gambari, who visited Burma twice after the ruling junta brutally cracked down on protesters in September, told reporters following the meeting that he has been asked to go to Burma this month, but the ruling junta said they preferred mid-April.

Following the visit by Gambari, the Burmese military regime appointed a Liaison Minister to communicate with opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. So far, the junta's Liaison Minister Aung Kyi held four meetings with the detained opposition leader.

However, the National League for Democracy, Burma's main opposition party, said the meetings have not resulted in any tangible progress in terms of initiating a political dialogue that could kick start a process of national reconciliation.

Nyan Win, spokesperson of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party – the NLD, said, "Since the meetings between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Aung Kyi were the results of Gambari's visit, he should return early and push for more."

Expressing desperation at the stalled process of dialogue, Nyan Win said, "the longer the process takes the country suffers."

Gambari, talking to reporters after a meeting with the Security Council, said, regional countries need to play a more active role on the Burma issue and indicated his intention of visiting India and China later this month.

However, he stated that the Burmese government needs to show that it is moving towards tangible progress on the constitution, freedom for all political prisoners, and addressing the root causes of discontent among the people, which the UNSC's presidential statement had emphasized in October 2007.