THE visit last week by the United Nations special envoy, Mr Ibrahim Gambari, has paved the way for beginning of a substantive dialogue between the government and the UN.

This discourse focuses on how the world body can help to mobilise international assistance for Myanmar’s economic development and to deal with humanitarian issues.

The government has accepted the proposal made by Mr Gambari during his latest mission to Myanmar from August 18 to 23 to establish an economic forum involving the government and the UN.

Information Minister Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan told Mr Gambari during a meeting in Yangon on August 23 that the government would submit a report on how the UN could simultaneously aid Myanmar’s economic development and expand its humanitarian activities.

Brig Gen Kyaw Hsan said the government was reconsidering the two issues to show its “willingness for promoting cooperation between the UN and Myanmar”.

“We will try our best at coordination,” he said.

The persistent dialogue between the two sides has led to reaching agreements on two potentially important issues which could help Myanmar in developing its economy, which could assist a smooth political transition.
“We believe that frank and cordial discussion...will surely lead to the common goal of successful achievement in our efforts for political transition in Myanmar,” Brig Gen Kyaw Hsan said.

The agreement to begin discussions on establishing an economic forum could not come at a better time, following hot on the heels of the humanitarian relief efforts after Cyclone Nargis, which stuck lower Myanmar in May.

Under the Tripartite Core Group, led by ASEAN, the UN and the government assisted up to 2.5 million people affected by the cyclone.

The group mobilised and coordinated assistance from the UN, NGOs and the government to help cyclone victims.

One major outcome of the group was to speed the issuance of visas to foreign aid workers.

Mr Gambari praised the group’s effort, saying during a meeting with group’s members in Yangon on August 18 that it serves as an effective model for cooperation and collaboration between the international community and Myanmar.

“He said that its work should extend beyond the humanitarian response in the areas affected by Cyclone Nargis to include social and economic development assistance in the rest of the country,” according to a group statement issued after the meeting.

The smooth running of aid operations in the Ayeyarwady delta through the group has helped to increase the level of confidence within the government on working with the international community on humanitarian issues.

Mr Gambari’s proposal to extend the UN’s help to Myanmar is also potentially important politically, as Myanmar prepares to hold democratic elections in 2010. A resilient economy will be vitally important for a smooth transition of power to civilian government.

Mr Gambari said that while the UN agreed with the government that the use of sanctions on Myanmar by major Western economies had been detrimental to economic development, he urged the government to do more to achieve concrete results in its democratisation process.

“The accusations against Myanmar’s government could be rebutted if there were obvious results,” Mr Gambari said at the meeting with Brig Gen Kyaw Hsan.

Mr Gambari encouraged the government to formally announce that talks between the Liaison Minister U Aung Kyi and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, last held in January, would continue.

The two sides have met five times since U Aung Kyi was appointed as Liaison Minister last October.

Mr Gambari also called on the government to review the prison terms of sick and elderly political detainees as well as those “who do not pose a threat to national security, with a view to forging national reconciliation”.

Mr Gambari had a series of discussions on those issues with the Prime Minister, General Thein Sein, and other senior government ministers, as well as members of political parties, including the National League for Democracy.
Mr Gambari met the party’s central executive committee for twice, but could not meet party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mr Gambari said that though the government had arranged for the meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the latter had declined to hold talks.

Mr Gambari said the cancellation of the meeting by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was regrettable but he was not disappointed and he hoped for further meetings with her in the future.

He requested a meeting involving him, U Aung Kyi, the leaders of the National League for Democracy and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.