U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says it was a "deep disappointment" that he was unable to meet imprisoned democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during his recent visit to Burma, saying the decision of authorities there not to let him meet with her was a lost opportunity on their part.
联合国秘书长潘基文说，他对于最近访问缅甸时没能见到被监禁的民主领袖昂山素季感到“深切的遗憾”。他说，缅甸当局不让他会晤昂山素季的决定是他们的损失。
Mr. Ban briefed members of the U.N. Security Council Monday on his visit earlier this month to Burma, where he met with Senior General Than Shwe, the prime minister, and other government leaders.
潘基文星期一向联合国安理会成员介绍了他这个月初访问缅甸的情况。他在那里会见了丹瑞大将、总理和其他政府领导人。
The U.N. chief had support from the council for the two-day visit, but it has been widely seen as a failure because he was unable to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi or affect any real outcome on other pending issues.
联合国秘书长对缅甸进行两天访问是得到安理会支持的。但很多人认为这是一次失败的访问，因为他没能与昂山素季会面，也没能对其他悬而未决的问题的实质性结果施加任何影响。
"Let me say that the refusal of the senior leadership to allow me to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was not only a deep disappointment, but also a major lost opportunity for Myanmar. While this should not define our efforts, allowing such a meeting would have sent a constructive and conciliatory signal, both inside and outside Myanmar," Mr. Ban said.
潘基文说：“我想说，高级领导层拒绝我与昂山素季会面不仅是一件令人非常失望的事，也是缅甸方面的一个重大损失。虽然不应该由此来确定我们所做的努力，但允许会面将向缅甸境内和境外发出一个建设性的、和解性的信号。”
Burma is also known as Myanmar.
Burma's U.N. envoy U Than Swe defended his government's decision, saying the Senior General was willing to arrange the meeting, but it was the decision of the Special Court that is trying Aung San Suu Kyi not to allow it.
缅甸驻联合国特使吴丹瑞为该国政府的决定辩护，说丹瑞大将愿意安排这次会面，但审判昂山素季的特别法庭不允许这样做。
Mr. Ban said that during his two meetings with the Senior General he discussed the need for the leadership to take meaningful steps toward the release of all political prisoners. He also urged resumption of talks between the government and the opposition, and creation of the conditions for credible and legitimate elections next year.
潘基文说，在与丹瑞大将的两次会晤中，他谈到缅甸领导人采取有效步骤，释放所有政治犯的必要性。他还敦促恢复政府与反对派的会谈，以及为明年进行可信和合法的选举创造条件。
Mr. Ban said he received assurances that the 2010 general elections would be free and fair, but cautioned such promises must be translated into concrete action.
潘基文说，缅甸领导人向他保证，2010年的大选将是自由而公正的，但他警告说这种承诺必须化为具体行动。
Burma's Ambassador U Than Swe told the Security Council that his government intends to implement what he called "all appropriate recommendations" of the secretary-general, and in a surprising announcement said his government is considering an amnesty for prisoners.
缅甸驻联合国特使吴丹瑞告诉安理会，他的政府计划执行秘书长提出的“所有适当的建议”。他还宣布了一个令人惊讶的消息。他说，缅甸政府正在考虑对囚犯实行大赦。
"At the request of the secretary-general, the Myanmar Government is [sic] processing to grant amnesty to prisoners on humanitarian grounds and with a view to enabling them to participate in the 2010 general elections," he said.
“按照秘书长的要求，缅甸政府正在准备对囚犯进行基于人道主义的大赦，并使他们能够参加2010年的大选。”
Speaking to reporters outside the council chamber, Mr. Ban said that news was "encouraging" but he would have to follow up to know exactly what it meant and who it included.
潘基文在安理会会议厅外对记者说，这个消息是“令人鼓舞的”，但他表示必须进一步了解这个消息的真正涵义，以及它都将包括哪些人。”
Within the Security Council, reaction was mixed toward the secretary-general's briefing and the Burmese government's response to his visit.
安理会内部对秘书长缅甸之行的简要通报以及缅甸政府对他访问的反应意见不一。
Western countries took a tough line, calling on Burma's leaders to address international calls for it to release political prisoners and resume national reconciliation talks. Several members also expressed concern over the current trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, questioning the legitimacy of the charges.
The democracy activist who has been under house arrest for more than 13 of the past 19 years. In May, she was moved to a Rangoon prison and is currently standing trial for allegedly violating the terms of her house arrest after allowing an uninvited guest in without official permission.
Burma's allies, including China, Russia and Vietnam, took a much softer tone, saying Mr. Ban's visit was largely a success and accomplished all his goals - except meeting Aung San Suu Kyi. But they defended that, saying meeting her should not be the only measure of the trip's success and that he met representatives from several political parties, including hers.
China, in particular, urged the international community to make a fair and balanced assessment of the situation and urged the lifting of financial sanctions, that it said are unfairly hindering Burma's economic development. |