UN's New Approach to Burma Issue Gains Support in Asean

The United Nations special adviser o­n Burma has a new mandate and a new approach to tackle Burmese issues which appears to be gaining support within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The new approach allows “greater engagement with Myanmar [Burma],” Ibrahim Gambari, the UN special adviser o­n Burma, told Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram o­n Wednesday during a courtesy, according to a ministry news release.

Nitya said he welcomed a “reframing” of UN policy toward military-ruled Burma.
The broadened mandate now includes not o­nly political issues, but humanitarian issues, such as the plight of women and children, and public health and disease-prevention issues, said the ministry.
Gambari's first stop o­n his current Southeast Asian consultation tour was Singapore, which also supported the UN’s new efforts.

“Singapore is supportive of the UN’s constructive efforts o­n Myanmar,” said a statement issued o­n Wednesday after Gambari's meeting with Foreign Minister George Yeo.
Grambri also won Chinese and Russian support, according to news reports. The two powerful nations vetoed a United States-led draft resolution o­n Burma in the United Nations Security Council earlier this year.

Grambri's next stops are Malaysia and Indonesia, to be followed by a meeting with the Burmese junta. No date for the meeting has been announced.