Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the Security Council, made the statement at a council meeting where Ibraham Gambari, Special Myanmar Adviser to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, reported his March 6-10 visit to the country.

The ambassador applauded the Myanmar Government for facilitating the meeting between special adviser Gambari and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and committing to keep a channel of communication between the government and Suu Kyi as well as a dialogue mechanism between Myanmar and the UN.

He cited Myanmar's seven-step Road Map toward democracy, its announcement to hold a national referendum on the country's constitution in May 2008 and a general election in 2010 as positive progress in the country.

Mr Minh said Vietnam advocates efforts to promote dialogue between all sides in Myanmar toward national reconciliation.

He affirmed that Vietnam will continue to contribute to efforts to resolve the Myanmar issue that supports the UN’s intermediation role, particularly the role held by special adviser Gambari, and respecting Myanmar’s independence and sovereignty.

(VOV)

Vietnam supports UN role, respects Myanmar sovereignty