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US envoy sees chances of talks in Myanmar
Washington, June 14: Holding that divisions within the Myanmar junta offer hope that the two sides could resume talks, UN special envoy Razali Ismail has said that further mediation, coupled with international pressure, could lead to the release of opposition leader leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Washington, June 14: Holding that divisions within the Myanmar junta offer hope that the two sides could resume talks, UN special envoy Razali Ismail has said that further
mediation, coupled with international pressure, could lead to the release of opposition leader leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The government's decision to let him meet Suu Kyi for 30 minutes after initially refusing his request, Ismail said, reflects a possible willingness by some in the military to compromise.
The divisions within the government offer hope that the two sides could resume talks, he said.
However, Razali cautioned against pursuing a policy of tighter sanctions without continuing diplomatic effort.
"If you hit too hard," he said, the moderates or the pragmatists will be at a disadvantage because the people who do not want to do this will say, "look, they just want to bang us on the head and that is it. The moderates "will be outflanked."
The UN envoy said the two sides were responsible for the stalled talks. "Both sides to some extent are responsible for that," said Razali adding she "should charm the generals but she has not done that."
In Rangoon, Razali said, he dealt mainly with the junta's second and third-ranking leaders, Gen Maung Aye and General Khin Nyunt.
But he did not meet with the government's top official, General Than Shwe, considered the primary opponent of political negotiations. "There is a tussle in this organization. Some find me very inconvenient," Razali said.
Bureau Report
The government's decision to let him meet Suu Kyi for 30 minutes after initially refusing his request, Ismail said, reflects a possible willingness by some in the military to compromise.
The divisions within the government offer hope that the two sides could resume talks, he said.
However, Razali cautioned against pursuing a policy of tighter sanctions without continuing diplomatic effort.
"If you hit too hard," he said, the moderates or the pragmatists will be at a disadvantage because the people who do not want to do this will say, "look, they just want to bang us on the head and that is it. The moderates "will be outflanked."
The UN envoy said the two sides were responsible for the stalled talks. "Both sides to some extent are responsible for that," said Razali adding she "should charm the generals but she has not done that."
In Rangoon, Razali said, he dealt mainly with the junta's second and third-ranking leaders, Gen Maung Aye and General Khin Nyunt.
But he did not meet with the government's top official, General Than Shwe, considered the primary opponent of political negotiations. "There is a tussle in this organization. Some find me very inconvenient," Razali said.
Bureau Report