YANGON, 25 May—Prime Minister General Thein Sein addressed Myanmar hosts ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference held at the SedonaHotel on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road here at 11 am today. It was attended by UN Secretary-General Mr BanChina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia,Ireland,Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Laos, Luxemburg,Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines,Poland,Russia, Serbia,Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden,Thailand,Turkey, Britain, Ukraine,Nigeria, Brazil, Spain, Hungary, the US and Vietnam totaling 51 nations and officials of the UN Headquarters, ASEAN Secretariat, 24 international organizations such as EU, UNFPA, WHO, FAO, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNODC, WFP, ILO, UNDP, UNOPS, UNIC, IOM, IFRC, ICRC, WORLD BANK, ADB, UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNHabitat, UNHQ, OCHA, WMO, and MBC and Myanmar Business Coalition on AIDS. Prime Minister General Thein Sein chaired the conference and UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Kimoon and Under Secretary-General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes,ASEAN Standing Committee Chairman and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Singapore Mr George Yeo acted as members of panel of chairmen. The Prime Minister and the attendees paid a one-minute silent tribute to mourn those who died in the storm. Next, the Prime Minister made an opening speech. (The speech of the Prime Minster is reported separately). UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Kimoon made a speech. He said: I am very much encouraged by the Prime
Minister's remarks. They are fully in line with the agreement we reached with Myanmar's leadership
in recent days. I believe they herald a new spirit of cooperation and partnership between Myanmar and the international community. The government has agreed to allow all international aid workers into
the areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis, without bureaucratic hindrance and regardless of nationality
so long as the mission is purely humanitarian. There should not be any serious obstacle to organizing
effective aid and assistance operations. We also agreed, among other things, to establish several
forward logistics hubs in the affected areas, so that aid may be speedily distributed to those most in need. The government appears to be moving to implement these accords. Some international aid workers and NGOs have already gone into the regions of the Ayeyawady delta without problem. All
this will go far to meet the expectations of the international community, which sincerely wants to
help the government of Myanmar overcome this national calamity. I am heartened to be joined today by so many distinguished leaders and experienced relief experts from around the world. Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar's "rice bowl" and the heart of its fishing industry. More than 130,000 are dead or missing.A few days ago, I visited the area and saw for myself the human toll of this disaster—homes and villages and roads washed away, fields flooded, so Myanmar hosts ASEAN-UN …many livelihoods destroyed. But I also saw homes- and lives- being rebuilt. The people of the country have shown extraordinary courage and resilience in trying to save their fellowmen and to rekindle hope shattered as a result of this cruel blow. From all I have seen, the government, with the help of the international community, has put in place a functioning relief program. Experts and experienced international relief
workers, in addition to the medical teams from neighbouring countries, must have unhindered access to the areas hardest hit by the disaster. Extra transport assets, including helicopters and boats, are urgently required. Whatever is needed to build an effective aid and logistics pipeline
must be quickly put in place and be well-coordinated, both with Myanmar authorities and international aid agencies.I am encouraged by my discussions with Myanmar's leadership in
recent days. They have agreed on the need to act urgently. I expect the relief effort will run for several months, probably six months at least, as we feed and care for those who have lost everything. In parallel, our efforts must also turn to rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction.
Singapore Mr George Yeo acted as members of panel of chairmen. The Prime Minister and the attendees paid a one-minute silent tribute to mourn those who died in the storm. Next, the Prime Minister made an opening speech. (The speech of the Prime Minster is reported separately). UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Kimoon made a speech. He said: I am very much encouraged by the Prime
Minister's remarks. They are fully in line with the agreement we reached with Myanmar's leadership
in recent days. I believe they herald a new spirit of cooperation and partnership between Myanmar and the international community. The government has agreed to allow all international aid workers into
the areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis, without bureaucratic hindrance and regardless of nationality
so long as the mission is purely humanitarian. There should not be any serious obstacle to organizing
effective aid and assistance operations. We also agreed, among other things, to establish several
forward logistics hubs in the affected areas, so that aid may be speedily distributed to those most in need. The government appears to be moving to implement these accords. Some international aid workers and NGOs have already gone into the regions of the Ayeyawady delta without problem. All
this will go far to meet the expectations of the international community, which sincerely wants to
help the government of Myanmar overcome this national calamity. I am heartened to be joined today by so many distinguished leaders and experienced relief experts from around the world. Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar's "rice bowl" and the heart of its fishing industry. More than 130,000 are dead or missing.A few days ago, I visited the area and saw for myself the human toll of this disaster—homes and villages and roads washed away, fields flooded, so Myanmar hosts ASEAN-UN …many livelihoods destroyed. But I also saw homes- and lives- being rebuilt. The people of the country have shown extraordinary courage and resilience in trying to save their fellowmen and to rekindle hope shattered as a result of this cruel blow. From all I have seen, the government, with the help of the international community, has put in place a functioning relief program. Experts and experienced international relief
workers, in addition to the medical teams from neighbouring countries, must have unhindered access to the areas hardest hit by the disaster. Extra transport assets, including helicopters and boats, are urgently required. Whatever is needed to build an effective aid and logistics pipeline
must be quickly put in place and be well-coordinated, both with Myanmar authorities and international aid agencies.I am encouraged by my discussions with Myanmar's leadership in
recent days. They have agreed on the need to act urgently. I expect the relief effort will run for several months, probably six months at least, as we feed and care for those who have lost everything. In parallel, our efforts must also turn to rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction.
Farmers and fishermen must be helped to resume their livelihoods. Destroyed infrastructure must be rebuilt. That is why I warmly welcome the government's agreement to join in a proposed tripartite coordination mechan ismled by ASEAN. I have said repeatedly that our immediate challenge is humanitarian. Our focus should be saving lives and helping Myanmar rebuild. There is good reason to hope that aid to the worst affected areas of Myanmar will increase significantly in the coming days. We have many generous bilateral and multilateral contributions, in cash and in kind, as well as pledges. We may need US$201 million to assist roughly 1.5 million survivors of Cyclone Nargis with emergency relief for the next three months. To date, we have contributions amounting to some 30 percent of that amount, with a further 20 percent pledged. I urge you to be more generous today. The needs remain acute —from clean water and sanitation to shelter, medical supplies and food. I am especially concerned about the lack of safe drinking water. Remember, also, that only a few weeks remain
until the rice planting season begins. Millions of people depend on this next harvest, at a time when food prices are soaring around the world. Next, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore
Mr George Yeo made a speech. He said that the today’s meeting is to focus on providing storm victims with food, shelter and medical attention. In that regard, more helicopters, road vehicles
and boats are in urgent need. In the months ahead, they will need seeds, farm machines, houses, schools and many other things in order to rebuild their lives. Therefore, we agreed
that an ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism should be set up for this purpose. This mechanism would work closely with the UN and with international and regional agencies. The ASEAN foreign ministers tasked Secretary-General Mr Surin Pitsuwan to lead an ASEAN Task Force that would work with the UN and Myanmar’s central coordinating body. I was heartened by Senior General Than Shwe’s agreement to let in aid workersfrom all countries, and thank the UN Secretary- General for working tirelessly to get us all together. At the meeting, we all should pay attention to how to provide storm victims with necessary assistance and must avoid politicizing the aid that we give. Next, the damages and loss to Myanmar caused by the storm and rehabilitationtasks being carried out were shown with the audiovisual aids. Next, Minister
for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha reported on the government’s measures onrelief and rehabilitation work in the aftermath of the storm, start of the storm Nargis, storm-hit areas, the government’s efforts, launching of relief, care and rehabilitation programmes, disease prevention and treatment, assistance from home and abroad, delivery of supplies to the storm-hit areas, death toll and missing and injured people, destruction and requirements for rehabilitation. Under Secretary- General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes reported on international assistance in cooperation with the UN and ASEAN ASEAN Secretary- General Dr Surin Pitsuwan reported on coordination system led by ASEAN. Prime Minister General Thein Sein hosted dinner in honour of the UN Secretary-General, Under Secretary-General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, ASEAN Secretary- General, deputy prime ministers and the ministers of the nations of the world. The conference resumed at 2.25 pm. Chairman of ASEAN Standing Committee Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Mr George Yeo presided over the conference with Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan and Under Secretary-General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes as members of Panel of Chairmen. The ministers and the deputy ministers, ambassadors, Charge d’s Affairs ai of Indonesia, the People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, Denmark, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sweden, Laos, Thailand, India, Britain, Brunei Darussalam, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Norway, the Philippines, Australia, the USA, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, France, Turkey, Slovenia, Ireland, Switzerland, Finland, Israel, Brazil, Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, EU, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Nepal and the Russian Federation, delegates of WFP, IOM, World Bank, ADB, ICRC and Save the Children pledged financial and other assistance. Next, Prime Minister and the UN Secretary-General arrived at the hotel and attended the conference at
5.15 pm. The conference ended at 5.30 pm with concluding remarks by Chairman of ASEAN Standing Committee Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Mr George Yeo.
After the conference, the Prime Minister cordially greeted the participants. Next, Under Secretary- General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes, Chairman of ASEAN Standing Committee Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Mr George Yeo, ASEAN Secretary-General Mr. Surin Pitsuwan and Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win met journalists from local and foreign countries and they replied to the queries raised by journalists at the press conference.
until the rice planting season begins. Millions of people depend on this next harvest, at a time when food prices are soaring around the world. Next, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore
Mr George Yeo made a speech. He said that the today’s meeting is to focus on providing storm victims with food, shelter and medical attention. In that regard, more helicopters, road vehicles
and boats are in urgent need. In the months ahead, they will need seeds, farm machines, houses, schools and many other things in order to rebuild their lives. Therefore, we agreed
that an ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism should be set up for this purpose. This mechanism would work closely with the UN and with international and regional agencies. The ASEAN foreign ministers tasked Secretary-General Mr Surin Pitsuwan to lead an ASEAN Task Force that would work with the UN and Myanmar’s central coordinating body. I was heartened by Senior General Than Shwe’s agreement to let in aid workersfrom all countries, and thank the UN Secretary- General for working tirelessly to get us all together. At the meeting, we all should pay attention to how to provide storm victims with necessary assistance and must avoid politicizing the aid that we give. Next, the damages and loss to Myanmar caused by the storm and rehabilitationtasks being carried out were shown with the audiovisual aids. Next, Minister
for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha reported on the government’s measures onrelief and rehabilitation work in the aftermath of the storm, start of the storm Nargis, storm-hit areas, the government’s efforts, launching of relief, care and rehabilitation programmes, disease prevention and treatment, assistance from home and abroad, delivery of supplies to the storm-hit areas, death toll and missing and injured people, destruction and requirements for rehabilitation. Under Secretary- General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes reported on international assistance in cooperation with the UN and ASEAN ASEAN Secretary- General Dr Surin Pitsuwan reported on coordination system led by ASEAN. Prime Minister General Thein Sein hosted dinner in honour of the UN Secretary-General, Under Secretary-General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, ASEAN Secretary- General, deputy prime ministers and the ministers of the nations of the world. The conference resumed at 2.25 pm. Chairman of ASEAN Standing Committee Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Mr George Yeo presided over the conference with Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan and Under Secretary-General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes as members of Panel of Chairmen. The ministers and the deputy ministers, ambassadors, Charge d’s Affairs ai of Indonesia, the People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, Denmark, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sweden, Laos, Thailand, India, Britain, Brunei Darussalam, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Norway, the Philippines, Australia, the USA, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, France, Turkey, Slovenia, Ireland, Switzerland, Finland, Israel, Brazil, Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, EU, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Nepal and the Russian Federation, delegates of WFP, IOM, World Bank, ADB, ICRC and Save the Children pledged financial and other assistance. Next, Prime Minister and the UN Secretary-General arrived at the hotel and attended the conference at
5.15 pm. The conference ended at 5.30 pm with concluding remarks by Chairman of ASEAN Standing Committee Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Mr George Yeo.
After the conference, the Prime Minister cordially greeted the participants. Next, Under Secretary- General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes, Chairman of ASEAN Standing Committee Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Mr George Yeo, ASEAN Secretary-General Mr. Surin Pitsuwan and Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win met journalists from local and foreign countries and they replied to the queries raised by journalists at the press conference.
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