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UN leader on Myanmar visit for historic talks
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Myanmar on Sunday for talks with Aung San Suu Kyi and the reformist regime amid a flurry of top-level visitors to the long-isolated nation, even as a series of attacks in conflict-hit northern Myanmar left at least four officials dead, State media said on Sunday, in rare acknowledgement of ethnic unrest that has marred the regime’s reformist image.
Ban, who told reporters last week Myanmar’s transition had reached “a critical moment”, is due to meet the Nobel laureate for the first time and speak in the country’s fledgling parliament during his three day trip.
The UN leader was met by senior local officials when he arrived in Yangon on a special flight on Sunday, UN information officer Aye Win told AFP.
Top EU diplomat Catherine Ashton is also in Myanmar following the recent suspension of European Union sanctions against the long-isolated country to reward political changes.
Ashton on Saturday opened a new EU office in Yangon that will mostly oversee the management of aid programmes but also have a political role, in a first step towards establishing a full diplomatic mission.
Myanmar, which languished for decades under a repressive junta, has seen a thaw in its relations with the international community since a controversial 2010 election brought a civilian Government to power — albeit one with close links to the military.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Myanmar on Sunday for talks with Aung San Suu Kyi and the reformist regime amid a flurry of top-level visitors to the long-isolated nation, even as a series of attacks in conflict-hit northern Myanmar left at least four officials dead, State media said on Sunday, in rare acknowledgement of ethnic unrest that has marred the regime’s reformist image.
Ban, who told reporters last week Myanmar’s transition had reached “a critical moment”, is due to meet the Nobel laureate for the first time and speak in the country’s fledgling parliament during his three day trip.
The UN leader was met by senior local officials when he arrived in Yangon on a special flight on Sunday, UN information officer Aye Win told AFP.
Top EU diplomat Catherine Ashton is also in Myanmar following the recent suspension of European Union sanctions against the long-isolated country to reward political changes.
Ashton on Saturday opened a new EU office in Yangon that will mostly oversee the management of aid programmes but also have a political role, in a first step towards establishing a full diplomatic mission.
Myanmar, which languished for decades under a repressive junta, has seen a thaw in its relations with the international community since a controversial 2010 election brought a civilian Government to power — albeit one with close links to the military.
