Briefing the United Nations Security Council in a closed door session on his recent visit to Myanmar. Vijay Nambiar, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Myanmar indicated that while the country has taken small steps in the right direction by releasing some political prisoners and reducing the sentences of others, the measures have been short of expectation and insufficient. Mr. Nambiar said the visit offered an opportunity for the UN to engage with the new Government, six weeks after it was installed, and to build on existing dialogue with key stakeholders. (UN News Centre Source)

“Peace Door” ?
He welcomed the Government’s recognition of Myanmar’s most pressing political and economic challenges and the need to address them in a way that strengthens national unity and reconciliation, The Government made an explicit commitment to keep the “peace door” open to political forces that had not accepted the recently adopted constitution or political roadmap.
“While the Government’s stated commitments were encouraging at this stage, he noted that gaining international confidence was as much a factor of leadership and policies as of delivering on popular expectations,” a UN spokesperson reporting on events noted.

Political Prisoners
During the visit Mr. Nambiar reiterated the UN’s call for the urgent release of all political prisoners. While the initial sentence reductions and resulting release of some political prisoners is a small step in the right direction, it has been short of expectation and is insufficient. “We continue to urge the Myanmar authorities to do more in order to be consistent both with their recent stated commitments and to meet the expectations of both its own people and the international community.”

Aung San Suu Kyi
The Special Adviser also conveyed to the Council the gist of his conversations with Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League For Democracy (NLD), as well as Myanmar's other political opposition groups, ethnic groups and representatives of civil society. He said the real test would be whether – or how quickly – the new climate can translate to a change in content.

Group of Friends on Myanmar
A meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar is likely to be scheduled in the near future, the UN spokesperson said. The Group of Friends is a form of diplomatic coordinating forum working from the UN.

Incrementalism v Dynamism
Personally, I would again emphasize my lack of confidence that the current diplomatic “roadmap” is likely to yield substantive results. The Myanmar junta only gives enough to avoid sanctions and/or the International Criminal Court. They will keep enough in their hands to maintain effective absolute control. Diplomatic officials also know this, but diplomacy frequently depends upon such small measures, as a means to avoid confrontation and “kick the can,” the opportunity for change somewhere further down the road of time. Whether that is a sound strategy in some circumstances remains to be seen; however the recent Arab Spring has shown that substantive change to unlock the grasp of absolute rule requires more dynamic steps.(Photos Above UN Secretary General on visit to Myanmar meets with junta leaders; ordinary citizen after 2009 cyclone reconstruction and Myanmar junta repressing demonstrators)

Related Reports – (LAST ARTICLE – “UN Official Meets Myanmar Opposition Leader” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/un-official-meets-myanmar-opposition-leader-aung-san-suu-kyi-by-ambassador-mo/27960

By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey
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