UN chief asks Yudhoyono to help ease tensions in Myanmar

New York (ANTARA News) - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to help ease the tensions in Myanmar as the Indonesian president has good relations with the Myanmarese leader, General Than Shwe.

"In my meeting with the UN Secretary General, he privately asked me what I could do (in Myanmar`s case) recalling that I once visited Myanmar. And also what Indonesia and Myanmar could do)," President Yudhoyono told the press here on Thursday before returning to Indonesia.

He said there was still a chance he would have direct contact with General Than Shwe to discuss the latest situation in Myanmar but he had not yet decided on making the direct contact.

"Whether I will have direct communication in the present situation, I am still considering it .... And if its necessary and will bring benefit, of course, I as an ASEAN member and my Myanmarese friend, we could do it," he added.

In his meetings with General Than Shwe, namely when he visited Myanmar and when the Myanmarese leader visited Jakarta, the President said, he had always expressed the hope as an ASEAN leader that the democratization process in Myanmar would run well.

Yudhoyono at the time also told General Than about Indonesia`s change-over from authoritarianism to democracy, including putting the military into a proper position.

He added on many occasions, including at the meeting with UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon and US President George W Bush, he had always stressed that the international world should help the democratization process in Myanmar and strengthen the country`s unity and security.

"So they still believe that democratization will be good for Myanmar," he added.

Yudhoyono further told Ban Kii-Moon that he would communicate with Singapore, the current rotating ASEAN chairman.

He added he had talked with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday morning and they agreed on the need to issue an ASEAN joint statement on Myanmar.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers of the 10-member ASEAN held a meeting at the UN Headquarters, in New York to discuss the latest development in Myanmar.

They also expressed their shock about the use of automatic weapons against demonstrators, killing several people and asked the Myanmar`s military junta to stop the cruel actions.

They also urged the Myanmar power holders to restrain themselves, seek a political settlement and make national reconciliation efforts with all parties.

Myanmar was also asked to release all its political prisoners, including democracy figure Aung San Suu Kyi.

The ministers directly expressed their concern to Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win and saw that the latest development in the country had led to a serious situation that would have an impact on the image and credibility of ASEAN.

A statement said Singapore`s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong would send a letter to the Myanmar leader to express ASEAN`s stance.

ASEAN ministers also supported the UN Secretary General`s decision to send his Special Envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, who has been dispatched to the region in response to the deteriorating situation in the country and welcomed the assurance given by Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win that it would give visa for Gambari in Singapore.

Ban, in a statement released by his spokesperson, called on Myanmar`s authorities to engage in a constructive dialog with Gambari, who will begin his visit on 29 September, and to commit to a path of peaceful and inclusive national reconciliation."