SG: I would like to first take this opportunity to thank his Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Prime Minister Chulanont, the government and the people of Thailand for their generous and warm hospitality.

I feel particularly honoured to visit Thailand on the occasion of an important celebration, that of the 80th birthday and 60th anniversary of accession to the throne of His Majesty [last year].

We just had a broad and comprehensive discussion with Prime Minister Surayudh Chulanont and members of his cabinet on issues of mutual interest to Thailand and the United Nations, and we welcome 61 years of fruitful partnership between the UN and Thailand.

This partnership is broad and deep, extending across economic and social issues, as well as peacekeeping.

Thailand has become an emerging donor, demonstrating success on development and partnership with the UN. I commend Thailand's commitment to South-South cooperation and the significant development assistance Thailand gives to neighbouring countries, especially through the UN Partnership Framework. We are ready to facilitate further expansion of this cooperation.

I congratulate Thailand's achievements towards the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). UN agencies are working closely with the Thai Government in this regard. I am looking forward to my visit this afternoon to the Royal Chitralada projects, one of many examples of the King's commitment and dedication to human development and the environment.

I will leave Bangkok tomorrow, to participate in the current climate change conference in Bali. I am encouraged by the concrete example of action in this field at the national level in Thailand and welcome the adoption by the Thai Government of the 5-year Climate Change Strategy (2007-2011).

I expressed to the government my strong appreciation for Thailand's long-standing commitment and generous troop contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, including an infantry battalion to the proposed UNAMID force in Sudan. The UN will proceed with preparations for deployment of all units, including the Thai battalion

Another field of partnership between the United Nations and Thailand has been its important contribution to the UN reform process. I particularly value Thailand participation in the Four Nations Initiative, which made concrete recommendations for a more effective UN secretariat.

I also commend the active role being played by Thailand in regard to important regional issues, particularly within ASEAN (the Association of South-east Asian Nations). I fully support the strengthening of cooperation between ASEAN and the UN in the context of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two institutions in September 2007. I reiterate my congratulations to Thailand and all ASEAN member states on their recent adoption of the ASEAN Charter.

I am truly grateful to Thailand for its strong support for my good offices' efforts in Myanmar, and welcome the efforts by the Thai Government to engage with the Myanmar leadership in support of UN efforts.

During our discussion earlier with the Prime Minister, I also stressed the valuable leadership role played by Thailand in the field of global public health as demonstrated by the Government's strong and continued political commitment to the control of avian influenza. Thailand has also made commendable efforts in containing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Your country's achievement serves as an example in the region and globally.

Thailand has also played a historic role as a sanctuary for refugees and displaced populations and I commend the government for its efforts to provide basic services to registered migrants, as well as its ongoing dialogue with neighbouring countries to combat human trafficking.

During my discussions with the Prime Minister and cabinet members, I also welcomed the government's commitment to upholding democracy and constitutional rule. I am particularly encouraged by the government's commitment to the announced timeline for holding national elections later this month.

Thank you.

Q: I make my question direct to the Secretary-General. The situation in Burma still has tension going on, with arrests and perhaps crackdowns. Would you have any further comments on how to stop this tense situation?

SG: As I said in my earlier remarks, I first of all commend and appreciate the government of Thailand's strong support for the UN's good offices role in bringing democratization in Myanmar. I will continue to do my good offices role through my special advisor, Mr. [Ibrahim] Gambari. We have made certain progress, but much more needs to be done in this field, in bringing democratization and promoting and protecting human rights in Myanmar.

We need ASEAN's special cooperation. ASEAN has a special political responsibility in further promoting democratization, and the United Nations will continue with this role. I would like again to emphasize that the return to the status quo ante is not acceptable and politically unsustainable. This is a firm principle which we have agreed on in our meeting this morning, and I am sure that this is a firm commitment and wish of the international community to see progress in the democratization process in Myanmar. I urge Myanmar's leadership to be more proactive in realizing democratization while fully protecting human rights and allowing Madame Aung San Suu Kyi to be engaged in dialogue with senior-level leadership in Myanmar. Thank you.

Q: I still have to ask Mr. Secretary-General about Myanmar again, because the dialogue has begun already, between Aung San Suu Kyi and the Myanmar government. But her role in drafting the constitution and her role in participating in democratization has not been realized. What quick additional measures or efforts can the UN make to help this process to begin? Could you clarify -- you said that the UN and ASEAN could do more -- so what do you expect ASEAN to do more? Should carrots and sticks be considered? Thank you.

SG: I know that the international community is very impatient, and our patience is running out, in fact. I am going to continue with the firm commitment to promote further dialogue and opening up Myanmar to the international community. In fact we have opened a small window for dialogue with the government of Myanmar. The appointment of Mr. Aung Kyi, who is now working as the Liaison Minister between Madame Aung San Suu Kyi and the government of Myanmar, is a good beginning. I hope that this relationship should be leveled up so that Madame Aung San Suu Kyi should be able to engage more in depth in a political dialogue and reconciliation dialogue with the senior leadership of Myanmar. As I stressed the importance of ASEAN's role -- Myanmar is a member of ASEAN and ASEAN has a special political role -- I had a very meaningful dialogue with all ASEAN ministers, including the Foreign Minister of Myanmar, last September when we gathered in New York. I am encouraged by the strong commitment of ASEAN and this is what I have stressed to the Prime Minister and the cabinet -- that ASEAN should be continuously engaged in further promoting the democratization of Myanmar.

(The PM made some remarks)

Q: Just a quick follow-up question for the Secretary-General. You said that the international community's patience was running out with Myanmar. Can you tell us, is that a threat?

SG: When I said that the patience of the international community is running out, I hoped that the Myanmar authorities would take it very seriously and in earnest. The people of Myanmar have suffered from isolation for such a long time and it is high time now that the Myanmar authorities and people would be able to enjoy genuine democracy and freedom and genuine integration with the international community, regionally and internationally. This is what the international community expects.

Human rights should be fully respected. Today is Human Rights Day, the 59th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. From today, the United Nations, and I as Secretary-General and my High Commissioner for Human Rights, will begin a UN system-wide campaign to promote human rights around the world. Therefore, I again urge the Myanmar authorities to fully respect the principles and rules of the United Nations Charter by fully engaging with the international community, by fully democratizing and by fully promoting human rights. Thank you very much.