SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES MYANMAR TO RELEASE DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI,

SAYS CONTINUED DETENTION NOT HELPFUL TO NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General reiterates his belief, which is shared by ASEAN and the countries of the region, that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s continued detention is not in the interest of the process of national reconciliation and democratization in Myanmar.  The Secretary-General urges the Myanmar authorities to seize the momentum created by the recent announcements to release some 9,000 prisoners by releasing her, as well as all those detained for expressing their political beliefs, as soon as possible.

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