Yangon, Myanmar, 24-Aug-2008 -

Prime Minister General Thein Sein received Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General Mr. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari at Zeyar Thiri Beikman, KoneMyintTha in Yangon, Saturday.

Similarly, the State Peace and Development Council's (SPDC) Spokes Authoritative Team met Mr. Gambari at National Defence College, Yangon for the second time.

Mr. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari and delegation on 18th August, arrived Yangon by air. Mr. Gambari met Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, the Ambassadors and Charge' d' affaires ad interim and officials of foreign embassies in Yangon as well as members of ICRC and Tripartite Core Group on separate occasions.

On the 19th, Mr. Gambari observed progress of reconstruction work in storm-hit areas of KunchanGon in Yangon Division. On the same day, members of the SPDC's Spokes Authoritative Team led by Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan and Mr. Gambari held a meeting.

On the 20th, Mr. Gambari held meetings with Minister for Heath Dr. Kyaw Myint, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Chairman of the UMFCCI U Win Myint and members, leaders of Kayin National Races who have exchanged arms for peace, Joint-General Secretary of the Union Solidarity and Development Association U Zaw Min and members on separate occasions.

On the 20th, according to the schedule of Mr. Garnbari's visit in Myanmar, he has arranged to meet Daw Aung San Su Kyi at 10:00 am but Daw Aung San Su Kyi refused the appointment. Therefore, Mr. Gambari tried to get an appointment by sending a personal letter to Daw Aung San Su Kyi through officials concerned. However, she didn't receive the letter and there was no reply. From 10:30 to 11:40 hrs, officials tried to inform that they want to send personal letter of Mr. Gambari by using the speaker at the backyard gate of Daw Aung San Su Kyi's residence. From 10:45 to 10:55 hrs, they also informed that they want to give Mr. Gambari's letter and if not able to receive the letter, it will be stuck on the gate wall. At 14:40 hrs, officials left the letter at the gate.

However, Mr. Gambari tried to meet Daw Aung San Su Kyi, there was no response and he could not meet her on that day.

Similarly, Mr. Gambari met political parties such as National League for Democracy (NLD), National Unity Party, Elected Individual Representatives Group and officials from other organizations at Seinle Kantha Guest House on separate occasions.

On the 21st, Mr. Gambari held meetings with Member of the Commission for Holding Referendum U Thaung Nyunt and members, Minister for Relations U Aung Kyi on separate occasions.

On the 22nd, Mr. Gambari made a prayer at Bengali Sunni Jarrnay mosque on Sule Pagoda Road in Yangon. Next, Mr. Gambari held meeting with Chairman of NLD U Aung Shwe and members for the second time.

On the 22nd, with the request of Mr. Gambari who wanted to try again for the appointment, two members of Mr. Gambari, Mr. Erwan Pouchous and Ms. Hua Jiang together with U Soe Win, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Police Col. Win Naing Tun of Myanmar Police Force visited Daw Aung San Su Kyi's residence, at 07:50 hrs. They tried to make contact by repeatedly informing the visit of two members of Mr. Gambari in front of her residence gate from 08:00 to 08:25 hrs. But there was no response. Despite Mr. Gambari's second attempt, he therefore didn't have a chance to meet Daw Aung San Su Kyi.

Mr. Gambari tried to meet Daw Aung San Su Kyi for two days but he failed. He then made a request that he wanted to meet again NLD CEC members although they have previously met on the 20th. On the 22nd, the Government arranged the second meeting between Mr. Gambari and NLD CEC members according to the request.

On the 23rd, Prime Minister General Thein Sein received Mr. Gambari and members at Zeya Thiri Beikman in Yangon. Members of the SPDC's Spokes Authoritative Team led by Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan and Mr. Gambari held meeting for the second time. Similarly, he met the Ambassadors and Charge'd' affaires ad interim and officials of foreign embassies in Yangon. He then left Yangon by air in the late afternoon.

With high regard to the Good Office Role of the United Nations Secretary General, the Government sincerely arranged for smooth and convenience of Mr. Gambari's visit in Myanmar. In addition that on his every visit to Myanmar, the Government arranged the meeting between Mr. Gambari and Daw Aung San Su Kyi with the aim to support national reconsolidation in Myanmar. Due to the refusal of Daw Aung San Su Kyi, Mr. Gambari couldn't meet her during this visit in Myanmar.

Excerpts from The New Lights of Myanmar 24-Aug-2008 and MRTV-3 news