Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations General Secretary has urged governments and corporate houses that have a relationship going with Burma to use their influence to impress the military rulers to implement its commitment to democratic reforms in the country.

Ban Ki-moon, speaking to reporters after a close door consultation with a group of 'Friends on Myanmar' on Friday, said all countries and corporate houses, whoever is cooperating with Burma should use whatever leverage they have to influence the Burmese regime to go in for democratic transition.

"Whoever has influence with Myanmar [Burma], should try to use their cooperation or their relationship to impress upon the Myanmar [Burma] authorities so that they can commit to their democratization process," Ban said.

Ban, however, said he will not be making any visits in the near future, as he thinks the visit cannot be productive and meaningful.

Ban, who in May visited the Southeast Asian nation in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, on Monday, was urged by Asian parliamentarians  to make a fresh trip to the country and push for the release of political prisoners including Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained for more than 13 of the past 19 years.

The UN Chief, however, said "At this time I do not think that the atmosphere is ripe for me to undertake my own visit there [Burma]."

Rather, the world body chief said, all countries particularly members of the group of "Friends on Myanmar" should use "their influence, they should use whatever available leverage and tools to impress upon the Government of Myanmar [Burma] to implement its commitment."