PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO BRIEFED ON MYANMAR'S ROAD MAP TO DEMOCRACY

Jakarta, March 17 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was briefed by visiting Myanmarese prime minister Thein Sein here on Monday on the development of that country's road map to democracy.

"We know seven steps have been taken into that direction and now is the final. Next year there will be a general election and after that a new parliament that will lead to a new government in Myanmar," presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said after flanking the president in a meeting with Prime Minister Thein Sein.
Dino said in the meeting that lasted around an hour Prime Minister Sein explained about the preparatory steps that had been taken for the implementation of the general election next year.
"The President listened and stated that this was the time for Myanmar to prove to the Asean and the world that the seven steps were operational," he said.
The President, Dino said, emphasized that the process was important to assure credibility, transparancy and justice. "So it is not only the general election that is important but also its quality," he said.
President Yudhoyono said the world had welcomed the result of the general election in Indonesia because it met the criteria.
Dino said President Yudhoyono in the meeting also underlined the importance of assuring good process of democracy but also Myanmarese national unity.
"Indonesia also had a similar problem then such as ethnic differences and separatism. Myanmar must also safeguarde its national unity," he said quoting the president.
Indonesia, he said, hoped Myanmar's national unity and integrity must continue to be safeguarded and political detainees could be released.
Prime Minister Thein Sein arrived at the presidential palace at 3pm, welcomed by President Yudhoyono and several cabinet ministers including foreign minister Hassa Wirajuda.
During the visit until Tuesday Prime Minister Sein was accompanied by minister for economic planning and development Soe Tha, minister of tourism Major General Soe Naing, minister of trade Brigadier General Tim Naing Thei, minister of transportation Major General Thei Swe and minister of forestry Brigadier General Thein Aung.