"The on-going democratization process in Myanmar cannot be forced. It should be allowed to run its natural course, and ,in time, when the Myanmar government is comfortable about letting in foreign monitors to observe its elections, we will be ready," Marty said here on Wednesday.
Marty met his Myanmar counterpart U Wunna Maung Lwin on December 28, 2011, in the framework of the second meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Yangon.
During his stay in Yangon, Marty also met with Myanmar`s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
"After having talked with the Myanmar government and Aung San Suu Kyi, I am convinced that change is taking place in that country but at the same time that process of change requires the cooperation of all sides," the foreign minister said.
He said that a democratization process was taking place in Myanmar which could be seen in the preparations being made there for the holding of a by-election, the release of prisoners including political detainees and the talks held by the Myanmar government with various ethnic groups in the country.
"The upcoming election is a by-election so that the Myanmar government has not yet asked Indonesia for relevant assistance. But Indonesia is resolved to cooperate with them in an effort to increase the capacity of democratic institutions in Myanmar," he added.
He said the Foreign Ministry would facilitate meetings between the Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU), the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) with their Myanmar counterparts.
"The Indonesian government will facilitate the cooperation between the KPUs of both nations so that Indonesian can serve as a monitor there. But this effort should be carried out in stages so that they (Myanmar) will remain comfortable about it," he said.
(Uu.A014/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
