UNSC President refuses to read out press statement unanimously approved
By sj.bs
UNITED NATIONS (KUNA) -- In a first, the President of the Security Council, Russia, refused on Friday to read out a statement to the press because it dealt with he situation in Burma, but allowed the British UN envoy to read it on behalf of all council members, including Russia.
Recalling its previous statements, the council reiterated "the importance of the release of all political prisoners," the press statement, read out by British UN envoy John Sawers instead of council President Russian UN envoy Vitaly Churkin, said.
"The members of the Security Council express their concern about the political impact of recent developments relating to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," in an indirect reference to the military junta crackdown on its chief opponent ahead of the election next year.
She is accused of violating the terms of her house arrest by allowing an American man, who swam across a lake, to spend at least one night in her house.
The council also reiterated the need for the Government in Myanmar "to create the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue" with the pro-democracy leader and all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the support of the UN.
222142 May 09NNNN
Politics 5/22/2009 9:42:00 PM
