UNITED NATIONS — UN chief Ban Ki-moon briefed US First Lady Laura Bush by phone Tuesday on the latest Myanmar developments, as the Security Council pursued efforts to agree on a united response to defuse the crisis.
The first lady's press secretary, Sally McDonough, said Ban thanked US President George W. Bush's wife for her "unwavering support" for the people of Myanmar.
Ban also told Bush about the military regime's appointment of deputy labor minister Aung Kyi to talk with pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for most of the past 18 years.
"Mrs. Bush believes that the regime's appointment of ... Aung Kyi will be seen as a genuine effort toward national reconciliation when they release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners," McDonough said in a statement.
"Mrs. Bush expressed her hope that the international community will help to effect positive and peaceful change in Burma (Myanmar)," McDonough added.
Last week, Laura Bush urged Myanmar's ruling generals to "step aside" and called on the UN Security Council to issue a resolution calling for a peaceful transition to democracy.
The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, expressed hope that Security Council experts working on a revised presidential statement deploring the military crackdown in Myanmar would "finalize it today."
The non-binding text would urge Myanmar's rulers to "cease repressive measures" and release detainees as well as all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
During the experts's meeting Monday, China proposed amendments to soften a statement put forward by the United States, Britain and France Friday after the council heard a report from UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari on his recent mission to Myanmar.
The amendments, backed by several other delegations, called for replacing the word "condemn" by "strongly deplore" in the draft and dropping a reference to consideration of "further steps," suggesting instead that the council continues to monitor the situation.
Unlike a resolution, a so-called presidential statement requires the consent of all 15 members to be adopted.
Khalilzad had his own message to Myanmar's rulers.
"We believe it is very important that progress be made, that prisoners are released, that conditions for Aung San Suu Kyii be improved, that she can prepare for participation in negotiations, that there be negotiations for a transition," he said.
"The (Myanmar) military as a national institution has its role to play in a transition and post-transition," Khalilzad said.
But he added that it was "very important that a serious dialogue on transition begins" and that the international community and regional players play their role.
He called for an early return of Gambari to Myanmar "to facilitate a dialogue between the government, the military and the opposition."
China for its part restated its opposition to any strong world pressure against its close ally Myanmar, warning that it could exacerbate tensions there.
"Sanctions or pressure will not help to resolve the issues (in Myanmar)," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.
At least 13 people died and more than 2,100 were locked up in the Myanmar crackdown as security forces moved to crush protests involving up to 100,000 people with live rounds, baton charges and tear gas.
The first lady's press secretary, Sally McDonough, said Ban thanked US President George W. Bush's wife for her "unwavering support" for the people of Myanmar.
Ban also told Bush about the military regime's appointment of deputy labor minister Aung Kyi to talk with pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for most of the past 18 years.
"Mrs. Bush believes that the regime's appointment of ... Aung Kyi will be seen as a genuine effort toward national reconciliation when they release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners," McDonough said in a statement.
"Mrs. Bush expressed her hope that the international community will help to effect positive and peaceful change in Burma (Myanmar)," McDonough added.
Last week, Laura Bush urged Myanmar's ruling generals to "step aside" and called on the UN Security Council to issue a resolution calling for a peaceful transition to democracy.
The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, expressed hope that Security Council experts working on a revised presidential statement deploring the military crackdown in Myanmar would "finalize it today."
The non-binding text would urge Myanmar's rulers to "cease repressive measures" and release detainees as well as all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
During the experts's meeting Monday, China proposed amendments to soften a statement put forward by the United States, Britain and France Friday after the council heard a report from UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari on his recent mission to Myanmar.
The amendments, backed by several other delegations, called for replacing the word "condemn" by "strongly deplore" in the draft and dropping a reference to consideration of "further steps," suggesting instead that the council continues to monitor the situation.
Unlike a resolution, a so-called presidential statement requires the consent of all 15 members to be adopted.
Khalilzad had his own message to Myanmar's rulers.
"We believe it is very important that progress be made, that prisoners are released, that conditions for Aung San Suu Kyii be improved, that she can prepare for participation in negotiations, that there be negotiations for a transition," he said.
"The (Myanmar) military as a national institution has its role to play in a transition and post-transition," Khalilzad said.
But he added that it was "very important that a serious dialogue on transition begins" and that the international community and regional players play their role.
He called for an early return of Gambari to Myanmar "to facilitate a dialogue between the government, the military and the opposition."
China for its part restated its opposition to any strong world pressure against its close ally Myanmar, warning that it could exacerbate tensions there.
"Sanctions or pressure will not help to resolve the issues (in Myanmar)," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.
At least 13 people died and more than 2,100 were locked up in the Myanmar crackdown as security forces moved to crush protests involving up to 100,000 people with live rounds, baton charges and tear gas.
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