No Tangible Result from Visit: Gambari

WASHINGTON – The UN special envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, on Friday acknowledged that his recent visit to the country failed to yield any tangible results with regard to the goals set by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council.

However, he told members of the UN Security Council there seems to be some movement in that regard; a viewpoint which could not satisfy several members of the Security Council, including Britain, France and the United States.

Ibrahim Gambari

"I informed the (Security) Council that, so far, we have not seen tangible outcomes of my visit," Gambari told reporters outside the Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York.

"But there seems to be some movement in that direction," Gambari said, after he briefed the 15 members of the Security Council in a closed-door meeting. He was in Burma from January 31 to February 3, during which he met officials of the Burmese military junta and the leaders of the pro-democracy movement and ethnic groups.

He also met Aung San Suu Kyi, but could not meet Snr-Gen Than Shwe, head of the ruling junta, during his four-day stay in the country.

"I told the government, now is the time to demonstrate Myanmar's commitment to addressing concretely the issues of concern to the international community, particularly the release of political prisoners and the resumption of dialogue between the government and Aung San Suu Kyi," Gambari said.

"I did point out to the government that the action they take now and in the next few months would send signals to the secretary-general, signals to Asean [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations], and signals to the new US administration, which is trying to develop a new policy towards Myanmar," he said.

Gambari said the position of the UN with regard to elections and restoration of democracy in the country has not changed.

"We're not advocating elections in 2010 or any time. It is up to the government and people of Myanmar to decide but we continue to advocate conditions that are conducive to free and fair elections when they do take place," he said.

Meanwhile, the British and French ambassadors to the United States expressed deep disappointment with the UN envoy for not being able to make progress with regard to the goals set by the UN Security Council.

The two ambassadors vented their anger at a media stakeout outside the UN Security Council after the 15-member apex body was briefed by Gambari.

"Unfortunately, the content of his report is disappointing," the French ambassador, Jean Maurice Ripert, told reporters. "We regret that there has not been any real progress on the issues of greatest concern. Indeed the situation has gone backwards," the British ambassador, Sir John Sowers, said.

Visibly upset with what many people in Burma saw as a failed mission, Ripert said: "[Gambari] was not in a position to meet with General Than Shwe. It is true he has seen Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi—that is the minimum that could have happened—unfortunately he did not receive in return any serious sign of opening by the authorities of Burma."

When asked about the release of 6,300 prisoners, as announced by the junta’s state media on Friday evening, Gambari said he has not received any official communication from the authorities and is waiting to see who is among those to be released. "At the same time, I believe it's fair to welcome the release of prisoners, particularly political prisoners," he said.

However, not satisfied with the announcement of the release of political prisoners, Ripert, the French ambassador, said: "Unfortunately there was no readiness by the authorities to open a political dialogue with the opposition without precondition."

Concerning elections planned for 2010 as part of the junta's "road map" for a return to civilian rule, Ripert said: "We have to be very careful not to validate—not to legitimate—such a process in the Security Council as long as there is no political dialogue that could ensure that the opposition will be in a real position to participate, democratically, in those elections."

Until there is some consensus in Burmese society to accept the political process leading to elections, Ripert said, "We don't think those elections should take place."

The French ambassador said the European Union is currently reviewing its policy with regard to Burma.