Myanmar Needs Continuous Support As It Prepares For Asean Chairmanship: Un Sec-Gen

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, March 23 (Bernama) -- Myanmar needs the support of the international community as it prepares to assume the Asean Chairmanship in 2014, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. He said he was encouraged by "the recent steps taken by the government under President Thein Sein" but acknowledged that Myanmar "still faces many challenges and will need our support along the way." Speaking at the inaugural International Institute for Strategic Studies' (IISS) Fullerton Lecture here Friday, Ban hailed the role of Asian nations, and Asean in particular, which he described as having been instrumental in supporting international engagement in Myanmar. "Our collective work -- the consolidated engagement of all partners -- has helped lay the foundations for change. "We must continue as Myanmar prepares to assume the Asean Chairmanship in 2014," he said. The UN chief said he had visited Myanmar twice as secretary-general, most recently in 2009, and that he looked forward to visiting the country again in the near future "to continue advancing our common efforts for national reconciliation and reform." Ban also said that he was "very deeply concerned" by North Korea's announcement that it would launch an “application satellite” next month. He said the Security Council resolutions clearly prohibit the launch of any satellite using ballistic missile technology. "Such an act would undermine recent diplomatic progress and, in its effect on international donors, would likely worsen the humanitarian situation inside the country," he said. -- BERNAMA