Meeting between Mr. Osamu Uno, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations

May 25, 2008

On May 25 (Sun), Mr. Osamu Uno, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, now visiting Myanmar, talked with Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for about 20 minutes from 4:15 p.m. (local time).
Mr. Uno made the following statements:

(1) The International Pledging Conference on Cyclone Nargis has been successful, and I pay respect to the United Nations, especially to the leadership of the Secretary-General. It was great progress that the Secretary-General met with Sr. Gen. Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and got him to accept all the relief personnel.

(2) Japan has decided to dispatch two survey teams (for medical team and salvage of sunken ships), and they should be arriving today. Further assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction will be considered.

(3) Japan intends to relieve the afflicted persons in Myanmar in concert with the U.N. and the countries concerned.

In response, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said:

(1) The U.N. has made a maximum effort to mobilize assistance from the international community.

(2) The U.N. appreciates Japan’s strong support. Salvage of sunken ships is a great initiative.

(3) For two weeks after the cyclone occurred, the Government of Myanmar was inflexible in refusing to accept relief personnel. I (Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon) persuaded　Sr. Gen. Than Shwe, Chairman of the SPDC by heart-to-heart approach. As a result, the Myanmar side agreed to receive relief personnel and allowed Yangon Airport and Yangon Port to be used as hubs of transportation.

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