Ban hopes election of new Myanmar president leads to ‘inclusive’ civilian government

4 February 2011 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today took note of the announcement, by Myanmar’s newly-convened parliament, of the election of a new president and vice-presidents and voiced hope that the move marks the beginning of a change in the status-quo in the South-East Asian country.

“He hopes that it leads to the formation of a more inclusive civilian government that is broadly representative of all parties relevant to national reconciliation and more responsive to the aspirations of the people of Myanmar,” the Secretary-General’s spokesperson said in a statement.

The statement added that the United Nations stood ready to work with the new government and all other stakeholders in the country to facilitate greater democratization, development and stability.

According to media reports, Myanmar’s parliament elected a former prime minister, Thein Sein, as the country’s new president and chose Tin Aung Myint Oo and Sai Mouk Kham as the two vice-presidents.