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UN chief speaks to Myanmar PM
Beijing News.Net
Thursday 22nd May, 2008
It has been reported that the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon held constructive talks with Myanmar's prime minister on Thursday.
The UN secretary-general toured the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon before meeting with Prime Minister General Thein Sein for more than one hour.
Without providing details, the secretary-general's spokeswoman, Michele Montas, said that the meeting was 'very constructive'.
Ban also met other Myanmar ministers before flying by helicopter to inspect parts of the Irrawaddy delta, the area hardest hit by the May 2nd cyclone.
After the talks, Ban Ki-moon inspected areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis, which has left more than a million people in need of aid, 20 days after the storm.
On Friday, Ban is scheduled to head to the military's new capital of Naypyitaw, about 350 km north of Rangoon, to hold talks with junta head Senior General Than Shwe.
At a press conference in Bangkok Wednesday, Ban said he was going to Myanmar 'to see for myself the affected areas and to meet the people who are in need.'
Almost three weeks after the cyclone hit Myanmar, an international disaster relief effort has only been able to reach about 25 percent of the 2.5 million people affected by the storm, Ban noted.
According to Myanmar government estimates the cyclone - the worst natural calamity in the reclusive country's history - left at least 133,000 dead or missing.
The disaster has also brought in to the world spotlight Myanmar's rulers, a military dictatorship that has lorded over its people for the past 46 years, earning the country pariah status among Western democracies and proving an embarrassment for even its closest Asian allies.
The UN chief said his priority for the trip is to expedite all arrangements for facilitating the free movement of international relief aid and workers.
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