Annan sends envoy to Myanmar, stresses on rights

United Nations, Nov 8: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has emphasised the need for ''tangible steps forward'' by Myanmar on such issues as human rights, democratic reform and national reconciliation.

The envoy of UN Secretary-General will visit the Southeast nation for four days beginning tomorrow. The visit is ''part of a process of dialogue that could lead to strengthened cooperation between the United Nations and Myanmar.'' ''The Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, will visit Myanmar from November 9-12 as an emissary of the Secretary-General, within the context of the good offices mandate given by the General Assembly and at the invitation of the Government of Myanmar,'' a UN statement, quoting Mr Annan, said yesterday.

''Mr Gambari is expected to meet the senior officials and others from across the political spectrum, including all those with whom he had met during his first visit in May, he added. At that time, Mr Gambari had met with the country's most prominent democracy advocate, Daw Aung SanSuu Kyi.

While appreciating the invitation to his envoy, Mr Annan emphasised the continued value of this engagement ''can only be demonstrated by tangible steps forward on central issues such as human rights, democratic reform and national reconciliation.'' Mr Annan has repeatedly called for the release of Ms Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for ten of the past 16 years. During his visit in May, Mr Gambari had met her and the members of her party, theNational League for Democracy, and stated that the isolated government seemed willing to engage in dialogue with the international community.

UNI