Secretary-General calls for ‘inclusive, participatory and transparent’ process,

As Myanmar announces plans for constitutional referendum

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The announcement by the Myanmar Government that it plans to hold a constitutional referendum in May and “multiparty democratic elections” by 2010 marks the first establishment of a time frame for the implementation of its “political road map process”.

In light of this announcement, the Secretary-General renews his call to the Myanmar authorities to make the constitution-making process inclusive, participatory and transparent in order to ensure that any draft constitution is broadly representative of the views of all the people of Myanmar.  In this regard, he believes it is now all the more important for the Myanmar leadership to engage without delay in a substantive and time-bound dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other relevant parties to the national reconciliation process.  The United Nations remains ready to continue to support this process with the cooperation of the parties concerned.

The Secretary-General believes this latest development also makes it essential that a visit to Myanmar by his Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari, be allowed to proceed without further delay.

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For information media • not an official record