Secretary-General's press encounter following his briefing to the Security Council on Myanmar

From the outset, I stated that it would be a difficult mission. However, the visit provided a unique opportunity to engage directly and frankly with Senior General Than Shwe and the Myanmar leadership on the broad range of challenges facing the country. I made specific proposals on various outstanding concerns which, if left unaddressed, could undermine any confidence in Myanmar's political process. These include firstly, the release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; secondly, the resumption of a substantive dialogue between the Government and the Opposition; and thirdly, the creation of conditions conducive to credible, inclusive and legitimate elections. The visit also enabled me to engage directly with registered political parties and ethnic ceasefire groups, and hear their concerns.

In this regard, I would like to take note of the statement just made by the Permanent Representative of Myanmar saying that, I quote, “at the request of the Secretary-General in Myanmar, the Myanmar Government is processing to grant amnesty to prisoners on humanitarian grounds and with a view to enabling them to participate in the 2010 general elections.” This is encouraging but I have to continue to follow up how they will implement all the issues raised during my visit to Myanmar.

As you know I also visited the Delta region, where I witnessed our joint recovery and reconstruction efforts. Regrettably, I could not meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It was not only a deep disappointment but also a missed opportunity for Myanmar. I was however able to meet separately with the leaders of her party, the NLD (National League for Democracy).

Now that I have conveyed in the clearest terms what is expected of Myanmar's leaders, it is up to them to respond positively in their country's own interest. The world is now watching closely whether they will choose to act in the best interest of their country or not.

I would also like to take this opportunity to let you know that I will be traveling to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, later today, so that I can meet with the leaders gathered for the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement there on Wednesday. I will deliver an address to the Summit, and I will encourage the Non-Aligned Movement to build on its leadership role among nations to address today's challenges. Those challenges include disarmament, the economic crisis, climate change, and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

Thank you.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, you said that [Senior General] Than Shwe has committed to make the elections free and fair. But the constitution that was passed right after the cyclone says that a quarter of the seats have to go to people with military backgrounds, and that Aung San Suu Kyi couldn't run because she married a foreigner. Under those conditions, how can you believe that the elections are going to be free, fair or credible?

SG: I urged Senior General Than Shwe that this election should be fair and free, but also legitimate, inclusive and credible. To be credible and legitimate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners should be released. I emphasized that, without participation of Aung San Suu Kyi, without her being able to campaign freely, and without her NLD party [being able] to establish party offices all throughout the provinces, this election may not be regarded as credible and legitimate.

Q: Should she be a candidate?

SG: That is what I am going to continue to follow up. You have heard the Permanent Representative of Myanmar saying that his Government is now taking some procedures to allow some amnesty. But I'm not quite sure who will be included in this amnesty. But I have made it quite clear that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in particular should be released and free to participate in the election.

Q: It is the third anniversary of the July 2006 war in Lebanon - what would you like to say about the situation there? Are you optimistic about the future, or what do you think about the situation in Lebanon?

SG: All the developments in the situation which have taken place in Lebanon have been encouraging, and the whole international community, including myself as United Nations Secretary-General, should support and encourage such ongoing development of political maturity. The national government should be formed as soon as possible with all the parties participating there. This is what I have been discussing with the Lebanese leaders. And I am optimistic about the future of Lebanon.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, do you have any comment about the Sudanese Government judgement on a woman journalist by the name of Lubna Ahmed al-Hossein, lashing her 40 times because she wore trousers in public?

SG: I'm not aware of this fact, but, if you give me some time, I'll come back to you. [The United Nations Mission in Sudan, where al-Hossein works, later added that it was pursuing this matter with the Sudanese authorities.]

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, two days ago, since we were talking about anniversaries and massacres, it was the 14th anniversary of Srebenica. I haven't seen or heard anything this body did say or mention in regard to that, though one would say that UNPROFOR [UN Protection Force] was the most responsible for what happened, since it was declared a safe haven of the refugees. What is you comment on that?

SG: We have seen, in the past, very unfortunate and tragic massacres of people - genocide - in several places. We should not repeat that any more. That is what we are doing very hard and that is [something to which] I have been committed, so that this world should never experience a repetition of that kind of very tragic massacre of civilian population.

Thank you very much.