In a meeting with international pro-democracy activists, Ban Ki-moon outlines the issues at the centre of his official visit in July. He urges the junta to "seize the opportunity" to promote "a credible political process" in Myanmar.

New York (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Ban Ki-moon is urging the Burmese military junta to "listen to the international community" and "release all political prisoners" confined in the country’s prisons, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The UN Secretary General launched the new appeal yesterday during a meeting in New York with a group of pro-democracy activists from Myanmar.  

“First, my clear expectation and that of the international community - said Ban Ki-moon, in a meeting with 14 delegates from the" Group of Friends” of Myanmar - is that the Government of Myanmar fully evaluate the consequences of a any verdict in their case against Aung San Suu Kyi”. The UN Secretary-General is calling on the junta to "take advantage of this opportunity" to ensure “her immediate release”. 

Ban Ki-moon also explained the issues at the heart of his encounter with the Burmese leadership during a two day official visit to Myanmar, July 3 and 4, during which he was not allowed to meet the Nobel Peace Prize Winner due to a junta ban. "I addressed specific proposals to them – he added – starting with the release of all political prisoners, so they could participate in a credible political process" for the country.  

The Secretary General of the United Nations has finally announced a new summit to discuss the political crisis in Myanmar. It will be held on the sidelines of UN General Assembly scheduled for September.

• UN
• Myanmar
• Aung
• San
• Suu
• Kyi
• freedom
• democracy
• military
• junta
• dictatorship
• political
• prisoners