From SEAPG: RANGOON Date Created 6/29/09 1:36:00 PM Subject Burma: Gambari on the road to Naypyitaw, 26-27 June:Id=2424315 Summary Gambari.s visit was limited in time and access but paved the way for Ban to accept Senior-General Than Shwe.s invitation to visit Burma on 3 July. A meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi to be decided by Than Shwe after discussion with Ban. Gambari to return ahead of Ban.s arrival to prepare the visit. . Gambari.s visit on 26-27 June lasted a mere 32 hours. As on previous encounters, his programme was revealed to him on arrival. He was driven directly to the new capital, Naypyitaw, a 4-hour drive from Rangoon. A flight to Naypyitaw would have taken an hour. He met the Foreign Minister in Naypyitaw on the evening of 26 June and again on the 27 June before returning to Rangoon by air. . He was allowed to see the Singaporean Ambassador, as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, who briefed diplomats on 29 June. Gambari saw the Singaporean at his hotel in Rangoon. The Burmese set out three main expectations from the UN Secretary General: recognition that the Road Map was on course to lead to national reconciliation; call for increased development assistance; and sanctions to be lifted. Gambari, in turn, set out the UN.s core demands contained in the UNSC Presidential statement covering release of political prisoners, time-bound dialogue with the opposition etc. The briefing did not suggest any agreed outcomes were in place. Logistics for the visit were also discussed, which included a speaking engagement for the Secretary General to “thank his team, NGOs, INGOs and regional partners for delivery of Nargis relief assistance”. Again details were not agreed in Naypyitaw and work on the programme will continue. . Ambassador spoke by phone to Gambari on his arrival and conveyed HMG.s key messages. Head of SEAPG working from Rangoon, spoke briefly to Gambari.s official, who confirmed that the two meetings took place. . The SG was briefed by Gambari after he left Burma. . ASSK.s trial continues on 3 July, where only one defence witness will be heard. The other two witnesses were rejected by the Supreme Court on 29 June. -- [Earlier -- 2008 UNGA] From UKMIS NEW YORK Date Created 9/27/08 11:47:00 PM Subject UNGA63: FRIENDS OF BURMA MINISTERIAL MEETING:Id=0358872 DETAIL . On 27 September, in the margins of UNGA Ministerial Week, the Friends of Burma met at Ministerial level. The Secretary-General chaired the meeting and his Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari, briefed the group. You represented the UK. France, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand were represented by Foreign Ministers; the EU by Solana and ASEAN by SG Surin; Russia and Vietnam by Deputy Foreign Ministers; and Australia, Norway, China and US by their New York missions. Members of the Group of Friends The following themes also emerged: . Secretary General's role. . Views on actions by the regime. . Bilateral action. . ASSKs position. . Humanitarian Situation. . Economic development. . Statement following the meeting. Press Stakeout . Following the meeting, you told the media that the Security Council's demands were very clear. But the regime were not cooperating with the UN. A return visit was a decision for Ban, but his continued engagement was essential for progress. You hoped no countries were on the side of the junta, but rather with the people of Burma, suffering from humanitarian trauma and a brutal regime. The people of Burma were not forgotten by the international community. Lunch with the Secretary Genera . You and Douglas Alexander also discussed Burma with Ban at the bilateral lunch on 27 September. You told Ban that we supported his leadership and would do whatever we could to help, but we did not want to get in the way. From RANGOON Date Created 03/02/2009 11:47:00 Subject BURMA: GAMBARI'S VISIT:Id=1239564 Summary Gambari sees ASSK and the NLD executive. Gambari supportive of a Ban visit, but his meeting with the Prime Minister later today will give a clearer sense of what if anything the regime is prepared to deliver, and may sway the debate in a different direction. DETAIL . The Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General, Ibrahim Gambari, paid his seventh visit to Burma from 31 January to 3 February. . Gambari.s objective was to assess the regime.s willingness to move on the key political issues (release of political prisoners: dialogue with the opposition: co-operation with the UN, in particular a political presence on the ground: willingness to establish some sort of economic development commission) and thus the prospects for a visit by Ban. . The programme as always unfolded minute-by-minute, but contained most of the familiar elements - a brief visit to the delta and a meeting with a range of government ministers. This was nevertheless a more positive visit in terms of political facilitation: . He saw Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) for the first time in almost a year . Gambari was able to meet with ASSK and the NLD.s Central Executive Committee (CEC) together for the first time. The meeting was attended by the members of the CEC but Special Branch cleverly excluded U Win Tin. . Gambari did not meet the Senior General but he saw the Prime Minister. . Gambari was allowed for the first time to meet one of the key ethnic groups, the Shan National League for Democracy whose leader, Khun Htun Oo, is, after ASSK and her deputy, perhaps the most important political prisoner. . We understand that in the meeting with Gambari, ASSK re-stated the NLD.s three longstanding demands - release of political prisoners, reconciliation talks and review of the constitution. From PRA Date Created 06/02/2009 12:03:00 Subject COASI/COHOM/COPOL I. Gambari in Burma/Myanmar:Id=1272722 Summary The Presidency would like to thank Italy in its capacity as local Presidency in Burma/Myanmar and has the pleasure to circulate to Partners its report on the visit of the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari in Burma/Myanmar(31st January * 3rd February 2009). The Presidency would like to thank Italy in its capacity as local Presidency in Burma/Myanmar and has the pleasure to circulate to Partners its report on the visit of the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari in Burma/Myanmar(31st January * 3rdFebruary 2009). QUOTE Although Gambari's seventh visit achieved a modest improvement in terms of access to the opposition, there appears to have been no movement from the Burmese/Myanmar authorities. Gambari saw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy executive but not Senior General Than Shwe. . The Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General, Ibrahim Gambari, paid his seventh visit to Burma/Myanmar from 31 January to 3 February 2009. . Gambari will meet the UN Secretary General in New Delhi on 5 February, before travelling on to Tokyo, Beijing and Brussels prior to his return to New York. . The programme as always unfolded minute-by-minute, but contained most of the familiar elements - a brief visit to the delta and meetings with a range of government ministers (including the Foreign Minister, and twice with the Spokes Authoritative Team - Foreign, Culture and Information Ministers) and the Tripartite Core Group. In terms of political facilitation Gambari had greater access than on his previous visit: . He saw Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time in almost a year. . Gambari was able to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy's Central Executive Committee (CEC) together for the first time. The meeting was attended by the members of the CEC but the Burmese/Myanmar authorities insisted on the exclusion of Win Tin. . Gambari was allowed for the first time to meet one of the key ethnic groups, the Shan National League for Democracy whose leader, Khun Htun Oo, is, after Aung San Suu Kyi and her deputy, perhaps the most important political prisoner. Gambari also met with a number of pro-government political groups, including an NLD splinter group. Gambari did not meet the Senior General who, chose to make his first public appearance since 4 January to accept the credentials of the new Chinese, Cambodian and Vietnamese Ambassadors. . EU HOMs understand that in the meeting with Gambari, Aung San Suu Kyi re-stated the NLD's longstanding demands - release of political prisoners, reconciliation talks and review of the constitution. She also apparently expressed concern over the absence of the rule of law illustrated by the heavy sentences recently given to political activists. Aung San Suu Kyi has been reported in the media as having told Gambari that the UNSG should not visit Burma/Myanmar until ASSK herself, her deputy Tin Oo and all other political prisoners were freed. . Due to time constraints Gambari was unable to brief diplomats prior to his departure from Rangoon. On the positive side, it is clear that the atmospherics and access to the opposition were better on this occasion than on Gambari's previous visit. Gambari had the opportunity to relay the expectations of the UN Secretary General and delivered to Aung San Suu Kyi a message from Ban Ki Moon. From: eGram Gateway Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 11:55:33 PM To: eD SEAPG Subject: LOCSEN; NOSEC: UN/BURMA: FRIENDS OF BURMA MEETING:Id=1405151 DETAIL . On 23 February, the Secretary-General convened a meeting of the Group of Friends of Burma. His Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari, briefed the group on his visit to Burma on 31 January - 3 February. UN Secretariat . Ban noted the UN's facilitation role and called on all sides to initiate a substantive dialogue. He welcomed the prisoner amnesty, which included twenty-three political prisoners, including some whose names Gambari had discussed with the authorities during his visit. This was a welcome first step. He reminded the neighbouring and ASEAN members of their role to encourage the regime to engage constructively. He hoped for concrete follow- up on the ideas for a toolbox the international community might give him to use. . Gambari gave a short briefing on his visit along the same lines as his briefing to the Security Council (UKMIS E-gram 6535/09). He saw three main challenges: getting the Government to deliver on the five point agenda; how to ensure reconciliation amongst all parties; and building consensus amongst member states. Members of the Group of Friends . The majority of ASEAN members noted positive progress, with the release of some political prisoners a welcome if small first step. This demonstrated the ongoing importance of the role of the Good Offices Mission and its role in encouraging dialogue between the Government, ASSK and political parties and ethnic groups. The following themes also emerged: Secretary General's visit. Engagement vs Isolation: Toolbox: Release of political prisoners: 2010 Elections. Regional Influence: Building on the Tripartite Core Group Cyclone Nargis, ------------- [Earlier] From RANGOON Date Created 21/05/2006 09:28:00 Subject BURMA: VISIT BY UN USG GAMBARI:Id=3652559 Summary Gambari calls on Than Shwe, and Aung San Suu Kyi, her first official visitor since March 2004. Raises key concerns of the international community including human rights and humanitarian access. . UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, accompanied by Director Asia/Pacific, and his Deputy Director UN Resident Representative , visited Burma from 18- 20 May, the highest UN official to do so since the SPDC took power in 1988. On 20 May he gave a briefing to the diplomatic corps in the State guest house shortly before departing (Gambari to NY). . Some had felt the time was not right, although countries in the region had supported. His objectives were: . to get a first-hand view of the situation in all its dimensions . to re-establish contact between the leadership and the UN following the SPDC's move to Pyinmana, and to open doors for the UN Country Team . to bring to the top leadership's attention the concerns of the international community, in particular the pace of democratisation; human rights, and humanitarian access, while respecting Burma's sovereignty His mandate derived from the UNSG's 'good offices' role set out in the latest UNGA Resolution on Burma. In deciding the timing for the visit, they coordinated with ASEAN, and followed the visits by the Malaysian Foreign Minister and Indonesian President. . He had met the UN Country Team, various Ministers, and the two main GONGOs, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), and the Myanmar Women's Affairs Federation. He also met 7 NLD CEC members for an hour, and representatives of the National Unity Party (successor to the pre-1988 government party, BSPP). He did not meet ethnic representatives. . The main meeting had been on 20 May in Pyinmana aka Naypyidaw, the proto-capital. He met regime Nos 1 and 2, Than Shwe and Maung Aye. The rest of the team met Nos 3, 4 and 5 and Ministers (Chief of Staff Thura Shwe Mann, Prime Minister Soe Win, Secretary-1 Thein Sein), where discussion had focussed on access for UN and iNGOs. After the Than Shwe meeting, he was informed he would be able to have a 1:1 meeting with ASSK, and duly did so for 45 minutes at the government guesthouse. She was also informed only then, presumably once Than Shwe had vetted Gambari. . The meeting with the Senior-General had been business-like. Than Shwe had pointed out the challenges facing the country, including the underdeveloped border areas, and the role of the military. Gambari commented that he thought Than Shwe would like to re-engage with the international community, and to turn a new page in relations with the UN; he knew some compromises will have to be made. The SPDC's invitation to Gambari, and the UNSG's willingness to send a high-level representative to test their openness, was a first step. . Gambari pressed Than Shwe for an all-inclusive process of democratisation including in the National Convention which he was told was due to restart in November, but with no overall timetable (his best guess for an end-date was 2008, and he commented that if it was really more inclusive, it should not be a problem if it took longer). He also discussed this with the NLD, and ASSK, and said that he thought there was a prospect of finding common ground to permit the NLD to rejoin the NC, and that the UN could be a facilitator. . On the SPDC's military action in Karen State, he had mentioned the recent UNSC resolution concerning targetting of civilians. The SPDC had given their version of events and their view that reporting was biased, with the IC attributing blame all to one side. Gambari had called for a suspension of the offensive to allow access for humanitarian workers, and an opening of dialogue. Than Shwe had instructed his Ministers to work with the UNCT to try to reach agreement on the SPDC's 'guidelines' for UN agencies and NGOs. NEXT STEPS . Gambari said that he would report back and then brief key countries including ASEAN and the ICGF. The next steps are for the UNCT to follow up on the guidelines and develop a Plan of Action for the next six months. Gambari was keen not let the momentum slip, although he thought it unlikely he would be able to make a return visit to see Karen state, as the SPDC had suggested him. COMMENT . But Gambari is wise to be cautious about the success of the visit. And although morale may have been temporarily lifted by his call on ASSK, this is not a breakthrough per se. Key indicators of the SPDC's willingness to listen will be a turning off of the campaign against the NLD, and a positive response to the proposals tabled by 3DF donors concerning access, together with a reduction in government and USDA attempts to muscle in on programmes. We will monitor this carefully and work with the UNCT on follow-up. From UKMIS NEW YORK Date Created 6/3/06 4:42:00 AM Subject BURMA: UN BRIEFINGS:Id=3780337 Summary Gambari provides briefings to the Security Council and the Informal Consultative Group following his visit to Burma. The situation now has cross- border implications. Gambari considering follow-up invitation from the regime to visit the Kayin State. DETAIL . The Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, briefed the Security Council on 31 May and the Informal Consultative Group on 1 June, following his trip to Burma on 18-20 May. He had gone to Burma at the invitation of the Foreign Minister and as a part of the Secretary-General's Good Offices, provided for in General Assembly resolution 60/233 of 23 December 2005. Than Shwe, Senior General, had stressed that he wished to co-operate with the UN, of which they had been a member since 1948. The Minister for Science, Technology and Labour was to be the liaison with the UN, ICRC and ILO; if there were any difficulties, Than Shwe asked Gambari to contact Than Shwe himself directly. Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) had been in good health. She supported the UN's efforts and wanted to be kept fully informed. . Gambari stressed that the visit had been treated with full protocol honours and hospitality. The delegation was almost under lock and key in the Government Guesthouse. Gambari reported that the prospects for dialogue were good. The UN were very disappointed with the extension to ASSK's detention but would not give up. They would be persistent in their message that there needed to be tangible progress towards restoration of democratic freedoms and progress on human rights. They would continue to press for ASSK's release. He did acknowledge that there were now cross-border implications to the issue, as a result of the situation in the Kayin State. He asked for the Security Council's support for the Secretary-General's Good Offices. INFORMAL CONSULTATIVE GROUP . Gambari elaborated on some aspects of his briefing in the Informal Consultative Group meeting. He believed the visit was evidence that the regime had turned a page. Than Shwe had invited him to return and visit the Kayin State, to see the situation for himself. . Gambari reported that ASSK was happy with the UN role and urged them to listen to the people. He also believed that Than Shwe was very conscious of international opinion particularly in the context of the Kayin State. He felt that the decision to extend ASSK's detention had not been made lightly. He still believed that the regime had turned a page but it remained to be seen what they would write on the new page. From RANGOON Date Created 11/13/06 9:04:00 AM Subject BURMA: GAMBARI VISIT, 9-12 November 2006:Id=5239907 Summary Gambari gives positive assessment of his second visit. He sees good range of senior regime figures and is given access to Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK). His wider contacts on the opposition side were restricted. He relays message from regime to ASSK. His visit coincides with further movement in the National Convention which brings closer the end of the current stage of the Roadmap. Detail . UN Under-Secretary Ibrahim Gambari visited Rangoon from 9 to 12 November. This report is based on a briefing he gave diplomats on the afternoon of 11 November. I am seeing the UN Resident Representative tomorrow which should allow for a fuller readout. . Gambari said the objective of his visit had been to exploit what he sensed was "growing trust" in the good offices of the UNSG to promote tangible results in several areas - to make the Roadmap process more credible and inclusive; to seek movement on political prisoners and specifically ASSK; to improve humanitarian access, and in particular the situation in Kayin State. On the government side, he had seen the top leadership of the State Peace and Development Council (Senior General Than Shwe; his Deputy Maung Aye; and Secretary 1Thein Sein) as well as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Planning. He had also seen representatives of the pro-government National Unity Party, and two regime sponsored NGOs. Gambari was going on to see ASSK after the meeting (although he did not know where this would take place). He had seen the NLD, but had not met with representatives of the 1988 generation students, as he had hoped. He had met ethnic representatives in the margins of the National Convention, but had not been able to meet with ethnic groups outside the process. . Gambari said he had pressed for the release of the 1988 generation students who were recently detained. He did not know whether they would be freed but thought some form of debate was underway within the regime. . On humanitarian access, Gambari said there had been substantive discussions. The UN and regime assessment of the current situation had differed to a marked degree, but agreement had been reached to the formation of a high-level inter-ministerial panel to review with the UN the situation as it related to health, education, livelihoods and poverty. An inter-agency assessment of the situation in Kayin State (where Gambari felt some form of new cease-fire was in the works) had also been proposed. From RANGOON Date Created 11/7/06 8:47:00 AM Subject BURMA: GAMBARI VISIT:Id=5188746 Summary Gambari pays his second visit to Burma from 9-12 November . UN Under-Secretary Gambari pays his second visit to Rangoon from 9 to 12 November. The regime proposed to the UN a programme which, if realised, would mark an advance on the May visit in terms of access. . The draft itinerary includes a further meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi. They have accepted also that Gambari be allowed to meet a wider range of political opinion. As well as seeing the NLD leadership and ethnic nationalities participating in the National Convention, Gambari is to be allowed to see a range of ethnic leaders including non-participants in the National Convention, as well as representatives of the 1988 student leaders (or at least those not recently detained). He will have a closed session with Senior General Than Shwe, and separate meetings with the Foreign and Labour Ministers. COMMENT . Gambari will be briefing the diplomatic corps on 11 November, after which we shall report further. To: MOSCX - eGram List From: eP MOSCOW Subject: FW: NOSEC: BURMA: SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING:Id=7796865 Sent: 08 October 2007 03:53:17 GMT Successful meeting. I stress we will judge the regime by results, and set out what needs to happen next. From UKMIS NEW YORK Precedence INFO IMMEDIATE eGram No. 41145/07 Despatched 06/10/2007 01:50:00 GMT . On 5 October, Ibrahim Gambari - Special Adviser to Ban with responsibility inter alia for Burma - briefed a public meeting of the Security Council on his recent mission to Burma. Gambari.s briefing was followed by public statements from Security Council Members, Singapore and Burma (Myanmar), and then further discussion in closed consultations. . Discussion in the closed session focussed largely on Security Council outputs and the timing of Gambari.s next visit. . Gambari said was prepared to return as soon as possible, and recognised that mid- November was too late. But it should not be a visit for its own sake - it needed proper preparation, and time for the parties to digest what they had heard. On outputs, an expression of support for the Good Offices Mission would be welcome and have an impact - the format was an issue for the Council. Unity of the Council was crucial, as was recognition that the status quo ante was unacceptable, and that this was an issue with regional repercussions. These last points featured in Gambari.s subsequent comments to the press. From RANGOON Date Created 07/11/07 10:26:00 Subject BURMA: GAMBARI VISIT: UPDATE:Id=8046353 DETAIL . Details of Gambari's meetings in Naypyitaw are beginning to emerge. On 4 November, as well as meeting the Burmese Foreign Minister, Nyan Win, and Aung Kyi, Minister of Labour and regime liaison with Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK), Gambari met with a group of Burmese GONGOs including the Myanmar Red Cross, the Myanmar Womens Affairs Federation, as well as the government proto-party the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). . Both state TV news yesterday and today's government newspaper have given detailed accounts of Gambari's meeting on 6 November with the SPDC's „Spokes Authoritative Team. (the trio of Information, Foreign and Culture Ministers who met with the US in Beijing earlier this year). During the meeting Information Minister, Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan, emphasized that the Team was acting on behalf of the senior leadership. Despite continued requests from Gambari, it seems unlikely he will meet Senior General Than Shwe. . The UN locally have issued a press release stating the facts about meetings so far. Gambari is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister and Secretary-1 later today and has agreement to return to Rangoon tomorrow, 8 November, to meet Aung San Su Kyi as well as members of Su Kyi.s National League for Democracy and the pro -regime National Union Party, before leaving for Singapore in the evening. It is unclear whether he will meet with the ICRC. In his meeting with Gambari on 6 November the Information Minister noted that a number of GONGOs were assisting those who had been injured in the protests, implying that there was no need for the involvement of an additional organisation. COMMENT . So far Gambari has had discussions only with individuals that the regime has wanted him to see and there is little time for substantive meetings with ASSK and the opposition before his programmed departure tomorrow. . We will report further as Gambari's visit concludes. From RANGOON Date Created 10/03/08 11:23:00 Subject BURMA: GAMBARI VISIT:Id=8965211 Summary Gambari makes his third visit to Burma since unrest. DETAIL . The UNSG.s Special Adviser on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, visited Rangoon from 6-10 March. He leaves today for Dakar, where he will brief the UNSG. . His programme included two meetings with the government.s so-called “spokes” team (comprised of the ministers of Information, Culture and Foreign Affairs). He met with representatives of the Constitution Convening Commission, with one of the minor ceasefire groups, with the ministers of Health and Planning and a pro-government political party. On the opposition side, he saw ASSK and the NLD. . The visit is still underway, but it's clear the going has been tough. For the first time - and despite a specific request from the Secretary General of which the Burmese were reminded on arrival - Gambari failed to see any of the senior leadership of the SPDC (he was received in November by the Prime Minister and Secretary 1). On this occasion he was not even summoned to the new capital. . They took as their agenda for the opening meeting with Gambari the letter Ban had sent Than Shwe on 19 February: . On future engagement with the UN - “if you propose a trip [to Myanmar], we will allow it. depending on the availability of responsible officials”. They rejected the proposal that Gambari be allowed to station a DPA official in Rangoon on the grounds that those UN agencies already based here could fulfil the task . On opening up the roadmap to wider participation - “the constitution has already been drafted and it should not be amended again”. “There cannot be any more all-inclusiveness in the process”. They rejected Gambari.s proposal of UN technical advice for the May referendum. . On political prisoners and ASSK - “there are no political prisoners in Myanmar, only those who have been punished according to law”. ASSK posed a grave danger and she had therefore been placed under house arrest in May 2003. The Head of State would meet ASSK only when she abandoned her policy of confrontation and support for sanctions. . They rejected Gambari.s proposal for a National Economic Forum on the grounds that his help in lifting sanctions would be a more effective contribution to alleviating the “obstacles and hardships” Myanmar faced. To: Burma – Cyclone (Narrow) From: UKMIS New York - Conf Subject:Burma: SG meeting with the Group of Friends Sent: 23 July 2008 22:11:12 GMT Summary SG hosts meeting of the Group of Friends in which Gambari sets out his objectives for his visit on 18-22 August. He also underlines his continued personal engagement in the matter. Detail . On 23 July, The Secretary-General hosted a meeting of the Group of Friends. Burma was not present. Gambari briefed the meeting on his forthcoming trip to Burma on 18-22 August. Secretariat . The Secretary-General hoped the meeting would strengthen Gambari's negotiating capacity. He called on the Government of Burma to regularise the Good Offices visits and end the lengthy political negotiation that determined whether and when they would happen. He underlined his intention to remain personally engaged and would judge when this was appropriate. . Gambari noted four main objectives he hoped to accomplish during the visit: presumption of an enhanced dialogue between the Government and ASSK; consideration of a broad based national mechanism to address socio-economic issues, especially in the aftermath of Nargis (resurrecting his idea of a National Economic Forum); ways to enhance the credibility of the electoral process ahead of 2010; regularising the Good Offices process including a presence on the ground. Group of Friends . All gave their full support to the Good Offices Mission and the positive role of regional partners and ASEAN. The discussion focussed on the following themes: . Objectives for the visit: . Release of ASSK and Political prisoners: . National Economic Forum: . Progress on the political track: . Role of ASEAN+3 Group: . SG press statement about the visit: From RANGOON Subject BURMA: GAMBARI VISIT:Id=0108335 Summary Gambari pays his sixth visit to Burma. Regime receives him at a junior level and, for the third time in succession, he does not see the Senior General. Aung San Suu Kyi, in an effort to prompt more serious regime engagement with her and UN, declines to meet Gambari. He presses strongly for government to respond. They field the Prime Minister to meet him, but no meeting with ASSK takes place. . Ibrahim Gambari visited Burma from 18-23 August. This was his first visit since March. . Gambari said at the outset that his objectives were to build on the unprecedented degree of high level contact and (twice)) that the disaster had prompted and to expand and deepen this into the political and socio economic areas. The UNSG planned to return to Burma “if conditions were right”, but it might take another two visits by his envoy to prepare the ground. He would be pressing all the key issues - the release of political detainees, the start of a process of genuine dialogue, and ways to make the next stage of the Roadmap (i.e. elections - “potentially the most difficult but rewarding”) more inclusive. . The visit proved more eventful than expected. It kicked off in predictable fashion. Gambari spent all of his time in and around Rangoon. He was taken to see something of the Nargis relief operation, and attended a meeting of the UN/ASEAN coordinating mechanism. He met a number of line ministers including Culture, Information, Planning, Health and Foreign Affairs, but was not taken to Naypyitaw and was given access to none of the more influential players. . He was allowed to meet the aged NLD central committee, but otherwise his interlocutors fell squarely in the regime camp. He saw officials involved in the electoral process (with whom he discussed the possibility of technical assistance in drafting and promulgating the electoral law) and, in what was a new element in the by-now-familiar routine, saw a number of (regime-linked) individuals and organisations which are likely to transform themselves into parties to “contest” the 2010 election. These ranged from representatives of the huge USDA, down to small splinters of the „88-generation students group and the NLD (the “Patriotic” NLD), and a group which styled itself as “independent representatives elect”. On the ethnic minority side, Gambari met a number of tame ceasefire groups, but was not allowed to see those which had expressed opposition to the Roadmap. . They said they would also allow him to meet ASSK at her compound, rather than at the government guest house.