Talks between Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Mitoji Yabunaka, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Kenichiro Sasae, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs

March 7, 2008

On February 27 (Wed), Mr. Mitoji Yabunaka, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, talked with Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General, who was visiting Japan, on the issue of Myanmar for about 30 minutes from 15:45. Mr. Kenichiro Sasae, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, talked on the same issue with Professor Gambari for about 30 minutes from 16:30.
In these talks, Professor Gambari stated: he would visit Myanmar in the beginning of March as Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, had urged Mr. U Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, to accept Professor Gambari’s early visit; he highly evaluated the announcement of a time frame for democratization by the Government of Myanmar as positive progress; however, it was important to include all the parties concerned in the process of its democratization, and it was important to hold substantive talks between the Government of Myanmar and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; he would urge the Government of Myanmar to show positive steps and to improve the credibility and transparency of the process of democratization.
Professor Gambari also stated that a comprehensive approach is important to support Myanmar by paying attention not only to the political side but also to the economic and social situation including health and education. To that end, Professor Gambari said, he intended to hold talks with the Myanmar Government on an idea to establish the National Economic Forum.
Mr. Yabunaka and Mr. Sasae said that the Government of Japan would fully support Professor Gambari’s U.N. good offices efforts. In response, Professor Gambari appreciated Japan’s support for him and highly valued Japan’s working on the Government of Myanmar for democratization and the improvement of the human rights situation.

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