MINISTER for Relations U Aung Kyi met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon on October 25 for talks that lasted for more than one hour, the state-owned New Light of Myanmar reported.

The report said the meeting was held at Seinle Kantha state guest house but did not provide any additional details.

It was the first meeting between the two sides since Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe made a conditional offer for talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on October 4.

The government appointed U Aung Kyi as Minister for Relations on October 8, to promote smooth dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

When the meeting occurred, the United Nations special envoy to Myanmar, Mr Ibrahim Gambari, was visiting Tokyo as part of a tour of six Asian countries to promote national reconciliation talks in Myanmar.

He said the first meeting between the two sides should lead to “the early resumption of dialogue that will lead to very concrete and tangible results,” AFP reported.

“I hope this process produces concrete results for the benefit of the people of Myanmar and also to improve the relationship between the government of Myanmar and the international community,” Mr Gambari told reporters in Tokyo following his talks with Japanese Prime Minister Mr Yasuo Fukuda on October 26.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the National League for Democracy said more than 50 of its members who were detained following last month’s street protests in Yangon were released on the same day its leader met U Aung Kyi.
The party spokesperson told AFP on October 26 that a total of 80 people, including the NLD members, were released from Insein prison on October 25.

– Agencies