By SEAN YOONG,

AP

Posted: 2007-10-17 06:53:06

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) – U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari said Wednesday he is negotiating with Myanmar ’s government to let him make his second visit to the troubled country sooner than expected and meet junta leader Gen. Than Shwe to discuss Myanmar’s political future.

Gambari, who was visiting Malaysia on a six-nation tour to press Asia to take the lead to resolve the Myanmar crisis, said he has a confirmed invitation from Myanmar’s authorities to return there by mid-November following his previous trip earlier this month.

“We’re right now talking about the possibility of perhaps even going a bit earlier,” Gambari told a news conference. “It’s important, of course, to meet with the senior general because that gives the authoritative response … to any of the queries that have been made.”

Gambari met with Than Shwe in Myanmar earlier this month, as well as twice with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but he has so far failed to bring about a dialogue between the two sides.

Gambari also said Wednesday the U.N. wants cooperation from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations – which holds its annual leaders’ summit in Singapore next month – to help “deliver concrete results” in efforts to encourage talks between the junta and the pro-democracy opposition in Myanmar.

“We want to go a step further,” Gambari said. “We don’t want the (U.N.) secretary general and myself to be left alone, but a sustained engagement … would be very much welcome. What form this should take, we have to leave it to ASEAN.”

Asked if the U.N. is asking ASEAN to suspend Myanmar’s membership, Gambari said: “No.”

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who met with Gambari on Tuesday, also ruled out suspension or imposing economic sanctions against Myanmar.

Gambari met with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi earlier Wednesday. He travels next to Indonesia and Japan, followed by India and China.