UN urges Myanmar's new leaders to implement reforms

Feb 4, 2011, 18:36 GMT

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for Myanmar's new leadership to form a government with 'broad' representation by all of the country's political parties.

Ban said he had 'taken note' of the parliament's election earlier Friday of a new president and vice presidents for Myanmar, which he said should mark the beginning of a change in the status quo.

'It represents an important opportunity for Myanmar,' he said. He called for an inclusive government that will lead national reconciliation and be more responsive to the aspirations of the people.

'The UN stands ready to work with the new government and all other stakeholders in Myanmar towards greater democratization, development and stability.'

The parliament elected Thein Sein, a former army general and prime minister since 2007, as president.

Myanmar, formerly Burma, has been ruled by military governments since the 1980s. The parliament held its first session Monday and is a product of elections in November, the first in two decades, though the main opposition party of Aung San Suu Kyi was barred from participating.

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