New York - High-level delegations from the United Nations
and ASEAN plan to meet in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday to put more
pressure on the military junta to accept international relief aid for
Cyclone Nargis victims, the UN said Monday.
The unusual move by the two organizations was announced following
the meeting in Singapore this past weekend by the Association for
Southeast Asian Nations in Singapore. It was not known if the junta
would allow the holding of such a conference in Yangon. But if it did
it would be the first time ever the UN and ASEAN would meet in the
Myanmar capital.
The UN said in New York that UN-ASEAN pledging conference on May
25 will be in 'recognition of the outpouring of international
solidarity and support for alleviating the devastating impact of
Cyclone Nargis on Myanmar, and the widespread suffering caused to its
people.'
The UN urged its members to take part at ministerial levels in the
conference to be co-chaired by the UN and ASEAN.
'The conference will focus on the needs of those affected by the
cyclone, and seek international support and financial assistance for
the international humanitarian response to meet the most urgent
challenges, as well as longer term recovery efforts,' the UN said.
Both the UN and ASEAN urged the international community 'to rise
to the occasion and translate their solidarity and sympathy into
concrete commitments to help the people of Myanmar emerge from the
tragedy and rebuild their lives.'
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was to fly to Southeast Asia on
Tuesday for a possible visit to Myanmar's devastated region in the
delta.
The junta had let the top UN emergency humanitarian coordinator,
John Holmes, visit the delta on Monday for the first time while it
still refused to allow more international relief workers into the
country.
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