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SINGAPORE : Singapore has urged Myanmar to admit UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari into the country and grant him full access to all players there.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry says Singapore welcomes the decision of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to send Mr Gambari to Myanmar.
In a statement, the MFA says Singapore fully supports any initiative by the UN which will help defuse the situation. It adds that a peaceful resolution to the situation in Myanmar will require the cooperation and involvement of all parties, including the military.
The Foreign Ministry says the UN offers the best hope for a peaceful resolution of the situation. And it calls on the Myanmar to take advantage of Mr Gambari's planned visit to defuse the situation.
The situation in Myanmar affects all ASEAN countries. And Singapore hopes that Myanmarese authorities and all other parties in the country will appreciate the broader implications of their actions on the region and act accordingly.
The Ministry adds that Singapore is deeply troubled and concerned by reports that the demonstrations in Yangon have been suppressed by force. And it urges Myanmarese authorities to exercise utmost restraint.
Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo, who is currently in New York for the UN General Assembly session, has applauded the decision by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to send Mr Gambari on this mission.
He urged all parties in Myanmar to work towards national reconciliation. Mr Yeo had spoken to Mr Gambari in New York and assured him of Singapore's full support.
The MFA adds that the UN Security Council intends to conduct consultations on the situation in Myanmar.
In his capacity as the current Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee, Mr Yeo is currently consulting with Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda of Indonesia, which is now a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and other ASEAN members.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has advised Singaporeans planning to travel to Myanmar to closely monitor media reports before travelling there.
Singaporeans travelling to the country are advised to register with the ministry on its website.
This will allow the MFA and the Singapore Embassy in Yangon to contact Singaporeans who are there and render assistance, if necessary.
The MFA and the embassy in Yangon are monitoring the situation closely. Singaporeans already in Myanmar are advised to closely monitor media reports on the situation.
The Foreign Ministry says they should take necessary precautions for their personal safety, including remaining in a safe location and avoiding areas where there may be trouble.
Meanwhile, Myanmar nationals in Singapore have been keeping up to date with developments back home through whatever means they can. Most have been glued to the latest news on Channel NewsAsia, while others gather to monitor blogs from Myanmar and get the latest updates from each other.
Flights from Yangon to Singapore have been packed over the past few weeks, while demand for seats to the Myanmar city is less popular, according to travel agents.
"I can't do anything when I go home. The best thing is to just stay here. If anything, I will call my family to come here," says one Myanmar national who is in Singapore. - CNA/ls/de
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