'Group Of Friends' Meet To Review Developments In Burma

February 15, 2008 9:04 a.m. EST

United Nations Headquarters (AHN) - The United Nations is trying to determine what can be done to resolve problems in Burma. Burma is now officially known as Myanmar.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon this week convened a meeting of the 14 Member States known as the "Group of Friends" to review developments in Myanmar, where the government forcefully cracked down on peaceful protesters last year.

The Group of Friends - comprising Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam and Slovenia (as holder of the European Union presidency) - met on the day for the second time following their first gathering December 2007.

Ban's Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari plans to travel to the region shortly, and will visit Beijing from 18-19 February, followed by stops in Jakarta and Singapore.

Earlier this week, the U.N. chief called on Myanmar to ensure that the constitutional referendum scheduled to be held in May represents the views of all of the South-East Asian nation's people.

He "renews his call to the Myanmar authorities to make the constitution-making process inclusive, participatory and transparent in order to ensure that any draft constitution is broadly representative of the views of all the people of Myanmar," according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.