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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.


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