Cooperate with UN or face more pressure: US tells Myanmar

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — The United States warned Myanmar's military rulers Thursday that they must cooperate with UN mediator Ibrahim Gambari or face increased pressure from the Security Council.

US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters after closed-door consultations with Gambari that the 15-member council expected "concrete results" from the UN troubleshooter's visit to Myanmar next month.

"My message to the regime is to take advantage of Mr. Gambari's visit," the US envoy said. "Absent political progress, we see the potential for increased political instability and the council cannot remain indifferent to that."

He added that the ruling junta must "turn a new page" and agree to a political roadmap for elections in 2010 as well as to the release of...