United Nations envoy Mr Ibrahim Gambari returned to army-ruled Myanmar yesterday as a row over the junta's move to kick out the UN's top resident diplomat overshadowed his mission to coax the generals to reform. He emphasised immediately UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's backing of country chief Charles Petrie, told by the regime he was no longer welcome after highlighting a deepening economic crisis that fuelled mass protests crushed by the army.
"Mr Gambari conveyed the Secretary-General's support for the Country Team and the Resident Coordinator and the important work they continue to do to improve the socioeconomic and humanitarian situation," the UN office in Yangon said in a statement.
"In this regard, Mr Gambari plans to address, with the Myanmar authorities, a range of issues, including those discussed previously, pertaining to further cooperation and dialogue between the United Nations system and Myanmar."
The statement also said Mr Gambari, met by Petrie at Yangon airport before flying on to the junta's new capital, Naypyidaw, unaccompanied by the UN country head, had a "specific message" for junta supremo Than Shwe.
It gave no hints on what the message might be.
Mr Gambari's mission, on his second visit to the former Burma since the army crushed monk-led protests in September, is to persuade the junta to enter serious talks about political reform with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. - Reuters
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