U.N. chief vows continued efforts for Myanmar's democratization

NEW YORK, March 10 Kyodo

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said Monday his special envoy to Myanmar has been unable to achieve what he had expected but vowed to continue efforts for the democratization of Myanmar.

The U.N. chief made the remarks during a news conference held after a meeting of the Millennium Development Goals' Africa Steering Group.

Ban's special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, left Yangon earlier in the day, wrapping up a five-day mission to the troubled Southeast Asian nation.

During the trip he met with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and government officials, according to a U.N. statement issued there.

When asked if he was disappointed that his envoy was unable to obtain agreement from the Myanmar junta for U.N. monitoring of elections there or for any amendment of a draft constitution that would allow Suu Kyi to run for office, the U.N. chief said Gambari ''has met many senior people, even including the constitution drafting and review committee members.''

''There was some progress, but we were not able to achieve as much as we had hoped,'' Ban said. ''This is an ongoing effort. But I will continue to press this issue so that Myanmar will meet the expectations of the international community towards democratization.''

Myanmar's ruling generals announced last month they would hold a constitutional referendum in May and multiparty elections in 2010 as part of the junta's ongoing seven-step roadmap to democracy.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won elections in 1990, but the military refused to accept the result.

She has spent much of the past 17 years under house arrest.

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