Myanmar: UN envoy wraps up latest visit to help with national reconciliation process

A top United Nations envoy helping Myanmar with its national reconciliation process wrapped up his latest visit to the country today, voicing hope that the international community would stay engaged and assist when needed.

Razali Ismail, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Myanmar, left Yangon after a five-day mission during which he met separately with leaders of both the Government and the National League for Democracy (NLD), according to a UN spokesman in New York.

The Special Envoy held talks with several officials, including Lt.-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and NLD General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as the leaders of several ethnic nationality parties.

"Mr. Razali believes that the national reconciliation process will continue to evolve positively along a number of fronts, and in a way that corresponds with the 'spirit' of the home-grown process that has developed thus far," spokesman Fred Eckhard said at a press briefing.

The spokesman said that Mr. Razali was informed by Ms. Suu Kyi that as a result of her recent travels in the country, she was willing to cooperate with the Government in ways that directly benefited all the peoples of Myanmar and would contribute to the evolution of a democratic State.

"Mr. Razali hopes that the international community will nurture and encourage this process and respond appropriately," Mr. Eckhard said.

The mission was Mr. Razali's eighth to the country and the first since the remaining restrictions on Ms. Suu Kyi's movement were lifted on 6 May.

Ms. Suu Kyi and the NLD won democratic elections held in 1990, but were never allowed to form a government.