9 erring body care centers shut in Riyadh    20,000 military emblems confiscated in Riyadh    Al-Samaani visits headquarters of Hague Conference on Private International Law    KSrelief provided over $7bln to support children around the world    Al-Jasser: Saudi Arabia to expand rail network to over 8,000 km    OMODA&JAECOO: Unstoppable global cumulative sales over 360,000 units    Saudi Arabia sees 73.7% rise in investment licenses in Q3 2024    Al Hilal doesn't need extra support to bring new players, CEO says    Rust premieres at low-key film festival three years after shooting    Fate of Gaetz ethics report uncertain after congressional panel deadlocked    Ukraine fires UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at Russia for first time    Netanyahu offers $5 million and safe passage out of Gaza to anyone returning a hostage    Indian billionaire Gautam Adani indicted in New York on fraud charges    Rafael Nadal: Farewell to the 'King of Clay'    Indonesia shocks Saudi Arabia with 2-0 victory in AFC Asian Qualifiers    Sitting too much linked to heart disease –– even if you work out    Yemeni Orchestra's captivating performances in Riyadh, showcasing shared cultural legacies    Future of Ronaldo's Al Nassr contract remains undecided, says Saudi Pro League CEO    GASTAT report: 45.1% of Saudis are overweight    Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig wins Miss Universe 2024    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



UN chief holds "constructive talks" in cyclone-hit Myanmar
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 22 - 05 - 2008


United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held
"constructive talks" with Myanmar's prime minister Thursday before
inspecting areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis, which has left more
than a million people in need of aid 20 days after the storm, according to DPA.
The UN secretary-general toured the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
before meeting with Prime Minister General Thein Sein for more than
one hour.
Without providing details, the Secretary-General's spokeswoman,
Michele Montas, said that the meeting was "very constructive."
In the afternoon Ban was scheduled to meet with the Myanmar Red
Cross and other Myanmar ministers before flying by helicopter to
inspect parts of the Irrawaddy delta, the area hardest hit by Cyclone
Nargis on May 2-3.
At a press conference in Bangkok Wednesday, Ban said he was going
to Myanmar "to see for myself the affected areas and to meet the
people who are in need."
Almost three weeks after the cyclone hit Myanmar, an international
disaster relief effort has only been able to reach about 25 per cent
of the 2.5 million people affected by the storm, Ban noted.
According to Myanmar government estimates the cyclone left at
least 133,000 dead or missing, ranking it as the worst natural
calamity in the reclusive country's history.
The disaster has also brought in to the world spotlight Myanmar's
rulers, a military dictatorship that has lorded over its people for
the past 46 years, earning the country pariah status among Western
democracies and proving an embarrassment for even its closest Asian
allies.
The State Peace and Developemnt Council (SPDC), as the junta
styles itself, has drawn international criticism for failing to
facilitate international aid for its own people in the aftermath of
Cyclone Nargis, and for refusing to hand out more visas to foreign
aid workers and allow those inside the country to work in the most
affected areas such as the Irrawaddy delta.
On Friday, Ban is scheduled to head to the military's new capital
of Naypyitaw, about 350 kilometres north of Yangon, to hold
talks with junta head Senior General Than Shwe.
The UN chief said his priority for the trip is to "expedite all
arrangements for facilitating the free movement of international
relief aid and workers."
He will return to Bangkok Friday night in order to hold talks on
Saturday with Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and other Thai
ministers.
Thailand, which is Myanmar's eastern neighbour, has turned into
the main logistical and organizational hub for the international
relief effort currently underway.
While thanking the Thai authorities, Ban said on Wednesday that he
wanted to set up forward logistical bases inside Myanmar as well, "in
coordination with the government, to speed up the delivery of
supplies and better coordinate our mutual assistance efforts."
The UN secretary-general will return to Yangon on Sunday to
preside over a UN-ASEAN pledging conference for Myanmar, for the
country's short-term and long-term needs.
On Monday, ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) agreed
to act as a liaison between the international aid community and
Myanmar's junta. The grouping includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.
Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win has estimated losses to Cyclone
Nargis at more than 10 billion dollars.


Clic here to read the story from its source.