New Delhi - Ibrahim Gambari, UN special envoy to Burma, told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that he is disappointed that his latest visit to the Southeast Asian nation did not yield any 'tangible result'.
Gambari, who wound up his latest visit to Burma last week, however, said it is important that the United Nations continue to engage with Burma's ruling junta.
Gambari, who is reporting to the UNSC on his March 6 to 10 visit to Burma, said, "Since assuming responsibilities for the Myanmar dossier, I have never been under any illusion that the engagement process will be smooth sailing."
"Indeed, over time, my engagement with my interlocutors has been difficult, complex, frustrating, but nevertheless incremental and continuing," added Gambari.
The Nigerian diplomat, during his last visit to Burma, was able to meet Burma's authoritative spokesperson team representing the junta, which is also called the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The UN envoy was also able to meet a few political parties including the National League for Democracy, the party led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the junta-backed National Unity Party.
However, he was denied a meeting with Burma's military junta supremo Snr. Gen. Than Shwe and opposition groups including the 88 generation students and leaders of ethnic nationalities.
Gambari said, with regards to the Burmese government's planned referendum and general election, he had made two offers – to provide technical assistance and suggested independent monitoring.
However, the Burmese junta flatly rejected his offer saying its plans are inclusive and Burmese experts will be involved in the process.
"It is a source of disappointment that this latest visit did not yield any immediate tangible outcome," Gambari said.
The Burmese junta in February announced that it will hold a referendum on the draft constitution in May followed by a general election in 2010. It also claimed that all political parties in Burma would be allowed to participate.
"The authorities, including at the highest level, had given repeated assurances that all political forces in Myanmar [Burma] would be allowed to participate freely in the referendum and elections," Gambari said.
However, the United States' Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad said the junta's constitutional process and referendum is seriously flawed. He added that the draft constitution has not been circulated among the public for review.
While the draft constitution has not been circulated for public review, according to the basic principles and guidelines, drawn-up during the 14-year long national convention, indicates that the military will automatically take 25 percent of future parliamentary seats.
The basic guidelines also vested a veto power to the military to take-over the civilian government and declare a state of emergency anytime it deems fit.
Burma's Foreign Minister in February told his fellow foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore that the new constitution will bar Burma's detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from contesting for any public office.
Khalilzad said the United States will draft a statement to the council "based on our concerns and the lack of progress with regard to the key issues." The statement, if agreed to by all 15 council members, would aim to keep pressure on Burma.
However, Burma's U.N. Ambassador U Kyaw Tint Swe told the council that there is no need for the Security Council to act on Burma as it posses no threat to regional and international peace.
Kyaw Tint Swe said, despite the complexity of the challenges, his government had come a long way and made significant strides in its seven-step political road map. He affirmed that Burma had been cooperating, and would continue to cooperate, with the United Nations.
"Myanmar is not a threat to international peace and security, as all its neighbours could attest. Additionally, the country is making significant strides in its national reconciliation and democratization process," he added.
"No Security Council action is warranted with regard to Myanmar," Kyaw Tint Swe said.
