MFA Press Release: Transcript Of Door-Stop Interview By Minister For Foreign Affairs George Yeo At Meeting Of The Group Of Friends Of The UN Secretary General On Myanmar, 27 September 2008

Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo, who is in New York from 21 September to 1 October 2008 to attend the 63rd session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, attended the Meeting Of The Group Of Friends Of The UN Secretary General On Myanmar, on 27 September 2008.

Below is the transcript of Minister Yeo's doorstop interview with the media.

TRANSCRIPT OF DOOR-STOP INTERVIEW BY MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS GEORGE YEO AT MEETING OF THE GROUP OF FRIENDS OF THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL ON MYANMAR, AT THE UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 27 SEPTEMBER 2008

Minister: (inaudible)...(talking about disaster relief after Cyclone Nargis) it was a difficult process and ASEAN played a critical role in it, but it worked out very well and there was no second wave of deaths from disease or starvation. And in that cooperation, there is hope for the future. We knew it is going to be a difficult torturous process, but at least there is a timetable, a roadmap now. Gambari has been invited back. At the end of the year, Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon will be meeting ASEAN leaders again in Bangkok. When he was in Myanmar in May, he had a good meeting with Senior-General Than Shwe. He said he would go back, but when he goes back, has to be very carefully timed, because expectations must be calibrated. He should not go back unless there are clear signs of progress, but his intervention at an appropriate time can be critical. These are some of the issues we have talked about.

I feel that it has been a worthwhile meeting, it has reinforced, underlined, the importance of the UN Good Offices. There is also a view by a number of us that the economic agenda should not be neglected. In a deadlock, what can often enable new paths to be opened up, is economic development. Economic development has a way of dissolving old divisions, old differences, giving hope to the people, giving a sense of optimism in the future. This is something about which, there is no agreement among the different countries obviously because there is still an embargo going on, but certainly for Myanmar's neighbours, including ASEAN, we see that economic engagement is something which continues to be important and we will continue to encourage Myanmar on the road to economic reform and opening up.

Q: Do you believe that the Secretary-General should visit Myanmar, while Aung San Suu Kyi is still under house arrest, is that right? Is that one of the conditions which should be met? (inaudible)

Minister: He should go at an appropriate time, what is an appropriate time I think should be carefully thought through. He should discuss it with the ASEAN leaders and with other leaders. But it is not a move to be lightly made.

Q: From the violent crackdown, there's been very little movement on the political front inside Myanmar. How disappointed are you and what specifically?

Minister: There is some political movement. They have had their referendum but there is no international legitimacy. They have got a constitution now, they are going to introduce election law, they are marching forward toward elections. The dice is loaded in favour of the military, but I believe that from a certain viewpoint, some progress is better than no progress. The problem is the NLD has not been part of the process, they may not participate in it, and if they don't, the country will remain divided and the problem will remain unsolved.

Q: What do you think would have .....

Minister: I've got to go back already...I'm sorry?

Q: What is your definition of clear signs of a problem?

Minister: I think let me finish the meeting first, thank you very much.

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