SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS CALL BY ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH-EAST ASIAN NATIONS FOR EXPEDITED POLITICAL REFORM, RELEASE OF POLITICAL DETAINEES IN MYANMAR

SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS CALL BY ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH-EAST ASIAN NATIONS

FOR EXPEDITED POLITICAL REFORM, RELEASE OF POLITICAL DETAINEES IN MYANMAR

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

The Secretary-General commends the call by ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations), made during its eleventh Summit in Kuala Lampur, for Myanmar to “expedite” both its political reform efforts and its release of political detainees, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Secretary-General welcomes ASEAN’s announcement that it will send Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar as an ASEAN envoy to Myanmar “to learn first-hand whether Myanmar is making steps toward democracy”.  He commends Myanmar for its decision to accept the envoy.

The Secretary-General also takes this opportunity to congratulate the ASEAN leaders for signing the “Kuala Lampur Declaration” this morning, which paves the way for the formation of an ASEAN Charter and will provide the bloc with both a legal and institutional basis.

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For information media • not an official record