UN chief Ban Ki-moon says he will visit Myanmar, urges reforms

Nov 19, 2011 |

Nusa Dua (Indonesia)

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United Nations leader Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday he planned to visit Myanmar 'as soon as possible', after talks with President Thein Sein where he urged progress on nascent reforms.

"I am also planning to visit Myanmar as soon as possible -- he invited me so I accepted his invitation," Ban told a press conference after the meeting with Thein Sein.

"I strongly urged him it is not necessary to wait 'til 2014 but even before that they should take all the political reforms," he said referring to the date when Myanmar will host the Southeast Asian bloc's annual summit.

"I told him that there will be huge expectations... and he should meet the expectations of the the international community."

UN envoy to Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, said that Ban's visit had not been finalised but would take place 'in the next few months'.

Myanmar's new nominally civilian government has called for the lifting of punishing sanctions imposed by the United States and other nations during its decades of military rule.

"I think there is a movement now to consider looking at these issues again," Nambiar said of the sanctions adding that the decision was 'for the countries concerned' to make.

"I think it is important that the people, the livelihoods of the people... are developed. All actions should be taken in order to reach that goal," he said.

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