U Aung Kyi has been appointed as Minister for Relations.

THE United Nations Security Council has welcomed the government’s decision to appoint a minister to liaise with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

A statement adopted unanimously by the 15 members of the Security Council on October 11 said it “welcomes the Government of Myanmar’s public commitment to work with the United Nations and the appointment of a liaison officer with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi”.

“The Security Council stresses the importance that such commitments are followed by action,” said the statement.

The statement came three days after the government announced the appointment of U Aung Kyi, the Deputy Minister of Labour, as Minister for Relations.

The appointment followed a recommendation made by the UN special envoy to Myanmar, Mr Ibrahim Gambari, during his visit to Myanmar from September 29 to October 2.

Mr Gambari held talks with the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, Senior General Than Shwe, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during the visit.

Meanwhile, in its latest announcement, numbered 3/2007, the government expressed regret at the move by the Security Council in an announcement made on October 12.

“It is regrettable that the UN Security Council has issued a Presidential Statement on Myanmar on October 11 totally disregarding the fact that situation in Myanmar does not represent a threat to the regional and international peace and security,” the announcement said.

However, it said the Security Council statement would not effect Myanmar’s cooperation with the UN.

“As the basic foreign policy of the Union of Myanmar is to maintain friendly relations with all countries in the region and in the world and to have close cooperation with the United Nations, the Government of Myanmar will consistently adhere to and implement this principle,” said the announcement, signed by Colonel Thant Shin.

It said the government remained resolved to continue its implementation of the seven-step roadmap towards a peaceful, modern, developed and discipline-flourishing democratic state.

The Security Council statement, which acknowledged that the government had invited Mr Gambari to Myanmar, “underscores its support for his return as early as possible, in order to facilitate concrete actions and tangible results. The Security Council urges the Government of Myanmar and all parties concerned to cooperate fully with Mr Gambari.”

The government announcement on the appointment of U Aung Kyi, signed by cabinet secretary Colonel Thant Shin, said the decision was made in respect of Mr Gambari’s recommendation and “in view of smooth relations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi”.

The appointment followed a conditional offer of talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi made by Senior General Than Shwe on October 4.

In its statement, the Security Council stressed the need for the government “to create all necessary conditions, for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups, in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the direct support of the United Nations.”
U Aung Kyi, who is believed to be in his late 50s, is credited for leading Myanmar in successful negotiations with International Labour Organisation in March on a mechanism for dealing with complaints on the alleged use of forced labour in Myanmar.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr Nobutaka Machimura, said he hoped the appointment would lead to positive developments in the future.

“We hope that the government of Myanmar would improve its democratisation efforts and human rights conditions by responding to the efforts of UN special envoy Gambari,” AFP quoted Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr Nobutaka Machimura, as saying in Tokyo.

A UN spokesperson said Mr Gambari was due to return to Asia this week for consultations in six countries, AFP reported.

Mr Gambari would travel first to Thailand and then head to Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and Japan “with a view to returning to Myanmar shortly thereafter,” the spokesperson, Ms Marie Okabe, said on October 11.

AFP quoted a western diplomatic source as saying the veteran Nigerian diplomat was hoping to return to Myanmar by the end of this month.