UN envoy Visiting urges Myanmar authorities to build developments

A United Nations envoy encouraged Myanmar authorities to build on recent developments towards democracy and national reconciliation, and to address concerns about the recent elections on Sunday.

This is important for laying the foundation of a credible transition,? he told reporters in Yangon at the end of a two-day visit.

Vijay Nambiar, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Myanmar, said he listened to as many parties as possible about their hopes, expectations and concerns.

The 7 November election, the first to be held in the country in 20 years, was part of a Government-designed timetable towards greater democratization.

However, the polls drew strong concern, including from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who said the vote was held in conditions that were ?insufficiently inclusive, participatory and transparent.?

During his visit, Mr. Nambiar, who is also Chief of Staff for the Secretary-General, met with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was recently released after being under house arrest.

?The United Nations has respected the position of all parties regarding the elections.

It now encourages them to work constructively for the national interest.

Mr. Nambiar said, in order to succeed, any political transition should be broad-based and inclusive, and involve not only those who participated and won seats in the election, but also those who did not or could not.

In this connection, he called for the release of the estimated 2,200 political prisoners still detained in the country.