LONDON, Nov14: The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, on Wednesday welcomed the report of Ambassador Gambari of Myanmar to the UN Security Council and said the signs of progress were welcome “but there remain major steps that need to be taken to ensure that the people of Burma have their voice heard about their own future.”

He said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has called for a ‘meaningful and time-bound dialogue’, and “I think that does provide the right framework for both the international community and the regime to find a way forward to this very serious situation.” He said Britain remained very concerned about the situation of political prisoners and wanted to see their release.

“We are concerned that there is not yet a proper process of national reconciliation involving all political parties. And we are also concerned that humanitarian assistance is being denied. The Burmese regime has taken small steps that now need to be followed up by larger steps,” he added.

Pointing out that there was a major meeting of Asean next week he said that provided the opportunity for regional players to play their part.

“My message is that the United Kingdom, as a permanent member of the Security Council and as a concerned nation, continues to play its part in ensuring that the crisis in Burma is resolved that that the voice of the Burmese people is heard,” he added.