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Ban also said he was ready to visit Burma, but urged the junta to ensure a return to democracy.

Ban visited Burma in May 2008, after the devastation caused by cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 100,000 people and left 2 million homeless. That visit focused on humanitarian assistance to the impoverished nation.

Ban told reporters he was willing to visit Burma to build on last year's trip, after a meeting with a group of "friends of the secretary-general on Myanmar [Burma]" to discuss the situation there following the junta's declaration of amnesty for 6,000 detainees.

"There is a broad range of issues to be discussed that will be of benefit to Myanmar [Burma]," Ban said, adding that the visit would be without preconditions.

The United Nations has demanded full democracy, release of all political prisoners and national dialogue among the parties, and Ban said it would be "disappointing" if the junta didn't follow these steps.

"This is the time for Myanmar to seize the opportunity before it to send positive signals," he said.

Ban's envoy for Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, met the UN Security Council last week to report on his recent visit to Burma. Some council members were disappointed that Burma has failed to meet UN demands on bringing democracy to the country.