Razali's seventh visit
source : All Media (23rd to 26th April-2002)
The second anniversary of Razali Ismail's appointment as United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar fell this month, but his efforts to coax of the military junta towards democracy have yielded little. The tall, affable 63-year-old Razali is making his seventh visit to Myanmar since he initiated a dialogue between the generals in Yangon and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy opposition 18 months ago.
Tuesday(23-april-2002)
- After arriving in Yangon Tuesday, Razali held a lunch with resident diplomats, followed by a meeting with Labor Minister Tin Win, official sources said.
Wednesday(24-april-2002)
- U.N. special envoy Razali Ismail met military intelligence chief Khin Nyunt and Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday.Razali, who has also met with foreign businessmen and ethnic minority leaders.
- A U.N. source told Reuters Razali had asked for a meeting with the junta's leader, Than Shwe, but had not yet received a reply.
Thursday(25-april-2002)
- Razali met senior members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) at the party's ramshackle headquarters.
- He said he would like to come back to Myanmar more frequently than the trips he makes every two to three months
- The UN secretary general special envoy went to the Nobel peace laureate's lakeside residence in downtown Yangon at 7 pm for dinner, sources say.
Friday(26-april-2002)
- Mr Razali had a working lunch with General Than Shwe, General Maung Aye, and Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt.
- Diplomats have said if Razali Ismail's mission to Myanmar ended without any sign that the secretive peace dialogue was moving forward, the credibility of the talks would be severely dented.
- Razali Ismail, has told the BBC he expects "significant developments" soon in the talks between the country's military government and opposition. Mr Razali would not be drawn on details, but UN officials said the release from house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was one possibility.
REMARKS
''I'm hopeful there should be progress but I can't promise when it will be,'''
Razali Ismail
''Razali said he was satisfied to learn that Secretary One is very interested in the dialogue,''
Khun Tun Oo
Shan National League for Democracy
''Razali told us there would be some manifestation of progress in a few weeks,''
One of a group of foreign businessmen who met Razali on Wednesday
"I indicated that it was time for the Myanmar government to consider bolder moves to carry forward the present process towards political transition,"
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
Special envoy on human rights
"If anybody can do it, it's Razali,If he doesn't succeed, I think it's 'Mission Impossible"
A Western diplomat in Kuala Lumpur