联合国副秘书长南威哲向缅甸官员承诺，联合国坚决致力于缅甸的改革。南威哲在缅甸首都内比都的一个政策发展会议上说，联合国已准备好以加倍的努力， 帮助缅甸政府改善人民生活，以此帮助缅甸“跟上这个不断变化的世界”。这次为期三天的会议于星期一开始，目的是讨论缅甸发展的加速所应实施的政策、要点和 机构改革。会议聚集了40多位来自缅甸国内外的专家，他们将在一个小组辩论中交流本国、该地区和其它国家的经验。
在最近几个月，缅甸释放 了多名政治犯，包括反对派领导人昂山素季，她曾经遭到软禁，现在计划参加议会竞选。缅甸还开启了与少数民族反政府力量的和平谈判，并放松了对新闻媒体的控 制。批评缅甸的人说，虽然缅甸从军人统治过渡到了文官统治，缅甸军方将领仍然主导着议会和政治事务。
A top United Nations official has assured officials in Burma that the U.N.'s commitment to reforms in the Southeast Asian country is firm. Under Secretary-General Vijay Nambiar told a policy development conference in the capital of Naypytaw that the U.N. stands ready to help Burma "catch up with the changing world" by redoubling efforts to help the government better the lives of the population.The three-day conference that began Monday is being held to discuss policy options, priorities and institutional reforms for accelerating development in Burma. It brings together more than 40 national and international experts who will participate in panel debates sharing national, regional and other country experiences.
In recent months, Burma has freed a number of political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest and now plans to run for parliament. It has also opened peace talks with ethnic rebels and loosened controls on the media.Critics of Burma say despite the transition from military to civilian rule, Burmese generals still dominate parliament and politics.