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Published on October 6, 2007

Nitya was speaking after a meeting at UN headquarters here with special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to discuss ways to bring peace, democracy and national reconciliation to Burma.

Along with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, the Thai foreign minister was among the first people whom Gambari met upon returning to UN headquarters on Thursday following a four-day visit to Burma .

Nitya said the special envoy had thanked Thailand for helping facilitate his mission to Burma.

Singapore, meanwhile, issued a statement saying the island nation will represent Asean at the UN Security Council on Burma in its capacity as current chair of the regional grouping.

"As Asean alone would not have enough leverage, [PM Lee Hsein Loong] also stressed the need for the other powers to weigh in and give their full backing to Mr Gambari and the UN," Singapore said.

It said Lee had written the "leaders of China, India and Japan to convey these views, and to encourage them to work together with Asean and the UN to help the parties in Myanmar [Burma] find a way forward for national reconciliation."

Gambari was dispatched to Burma to assess the situation and explore ways to end violence after a brutal crackdown on protesters, including Buddhist monks, over past weeks. He shuttled between Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon and junta leaders in the capital Naypyidaw to explore the possibility of opening up a dialogue.

The main idea is to have "inclusive political dialogue, national reconciliation and address social and economic development in the country," Nitya said.

Terms, conditions and a time frame for political dialogue were now under discussion among parties concerned, including paramount leader of the Burmese authorities Senior General Than Shwe and Suu Kyi.

Gambari was to put the Burma issue to the meeting of UN Security Council later yesterday, which was to be open to many stakeholders, including the Burmese foreign minister and representatives from Singapore as the Asean chair, Nitya said.

The 15-member UN Security Council would then hold a closed session to discuss the issue, he said.

But there might be no instant solution to end the conflict in Burma, as the Security Council and Gambari needed to return to the country in November for more consultations with all parties, Nitya said, noting that Thailand would do its best to facilitate the UN's task.

However, Gambari's time line to forge political dialogue in Burma is not known.

Asked by reporters earlier if he was satisfied with the result of Gambari's visit to Burma, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said, "We are doing what we must do. And I was relieved that he was, first of all, able to meet with the leaders of the Burmese government as well as Aung San Suu Kyi."

Supalak G Khundee

The Nation

United Nations, New York