By IANS
New Delhi : UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to discuss ways to exert pressure on Myanmar’s military junta following its crackdown on pro-democracy protests in the country.
Gambari, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s special advisor, said he was “very encouraged” by the Indian government’s undertaking to do everything possible to influence the Myanmar regime to go faster on the path to democracy.
“I am encouraged by India’s commitment to the good offices of the UN secretary general in its effort to advise the Myanmar regime to expedite the process of political reform and release detained pro-democracy protestors including Noble Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi,” he told reporters.
Gambari, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s special advisor, had arrived here Sunday night and met Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon Monday.
The UN, backed by the US and the European Union, has been asking China, India and Asean countries to do more to influence Myanmar’s military regime to end its crackdown on pro-democracy protestors and to initiate meaningful political reforms.
The former Nigerian foreign minister is on a six-nation tour to meet regional powers to devise a solution to the crisis. He leaves Tuesday for China and Japan.
Gambari will travel to Myanmar in November for his second visit in two months.