China Key to Reform in Burma French FM

Source: Agence France-Presse via Yahoo News

China is pivotal to strengthening UN efforts to bring about reform in Myanmar and must push the military junta to talk with the democratic opposition, France's foreign minister told AFP.

In an interview before leaving here for China, where he was to meet Premier Wen Jiabao, Bernard Kouchner urged Beijing to use its influence to create real dialogue between the regime and detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

He said the international community must support UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who has been tasked with dealing with Myanmar, to ensure there is a sustained contact with the reclusive regime.

"A national dialogue must be established," Kouchner insisted, adding it was "illusory" to imagine there could be an immediate regime change.

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