Senior UN official heads to Myanmar for talks with top officials

A top United Nations official will arive in Myanmar tomorrow for a three-day visit in which he will meet with the country's newly installed Government, political parties and civil society groups in the Asian nation.

Vijay Nambiar, the Special Adviser to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for Myanmar, will hold meetings in Naypyitaw, the country's capital, and Yangon, its biggest city, according to a statement issued by a spokesperson for Mr. Ban.

The visit is being held as part of the implementation of the Secretary-General's good offices mandate and takes place after a new Government was installed earlier this year following elections.

In March Mr. Ban said Myanmar's authorities had a duty to show that the announced transfer of power from the long-ruling State Peace and Development Council to a new Government is more than a change in name and represents a genuine move away from military rule.