A former Indonesian foreign minister has arrived in Burma on behalf of the United Nations for talks on development, security, human rights and U.N. reform.
Special Envoy Ali Alatas hopes to meet with Burmese officials in Rangoon during the next three days.
It's not immediately clear if Mr. Alatas plans to meet officials from the National League for Democracy, whose leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been under house arrest.
United Nations spokesman for Southeast Asia, Fahran Hak, tells VOA the U.N. continues to press for its envoys Razali Ismail and Paulo Sergio Pinheiro to be allowed to return to Burma, where in the past they have pressed for democratic and human rights reform.
He also says U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan would be willing to accept an invitation from Burma's leader General Than Shwe to visit the country if it could be scheduled.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.
