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February 18, 2008

UN Envoy to Burma Meets With Officials in China
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B47AEC:A6F02AD83191E1603C53929D8F06F468B3350E090FE6A6E8& Ibrahim Gambari
says he believes Burma is in 'critical phase' in terms of developments
in country and in its relations with neighboring countries and
international community





United Nations special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari (l) smiles with
Vice Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi prior to a meeting in Beijing,
18 Feb 2008The United Nations' envoy to Burma has met with officials
in China as he begins a new round of talks in Asia focused on
promoting political reform in military-ruled Burma.

Speaking with reporters in Beijing Monday, Ibrahim Gambari said he
believes Burma is in a "critical phase" in terms of developments in
the country and in its relations with neighboring countries and the
international community.

Gambari has visited Burma twice since its bloody crackdown on
pro-democracy protesters last September. As international pressure
builds on Burma, its military leaders have taken steps to begin
talking with opposition politicians. They recently announced plans to
hold a constitutional referendum in May and general elections in 2010.

Gambari wants to visit Burma as soon as possible, but its military
leaders say he cannot visit until April.

Gambari talked with Vice Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Monday and
is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Tuesday.
After his visit to China, Gambari will continue his talks on Burma's
political reform in Indonesia and Singapore.

In response to the Burmese government's plan for a referendum and
general elections, Burma's opposition National League for Democracy
said today that the public needs to see a copy of the draft
constitution before they can vote on it.

The NLD said the government also needs to explain to voters why it
never respected the results of the 1990 elections, which the party
won. Party leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 12
of the past 18 years.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.




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