Suu Kyi Meets Government Official

RANGOON — A pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi — under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years — met for a little more than an hour today with a Burmese government official in a meeting broadcast on state television.

Ms. Suu Kyi and a government minister, Aung Kyi, were shown seated in high-backed chairs having a discussion — a scene that suggested two dignitaries in a meeting rather than someone under house arrest.

The Nobel peace laureate was driven from her home to a nearby government guest house, where she held talks with Aung Kyi, the newly appointed "minister for relations," the report said.

It was the first known meeting between Ms. Suu Kyi and the retired major general who was appointed to the post October 8 to hold talks with her.

His exact duties have not been detailed, but it appeared Aung Kyi would coordinate all of Ms. Suu Kyi's contacts with both the regime and the United Nations, which is seeking to end the political deadlock between democracy advocates and the junta.

Appointing a liaison officer was suggested by a U.N. special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, during a visit to Burma weeks ago, state media said. Mr. Gambari met with both top junta officials and with Ms. Suu Kyi twice at a government guest house during his visit.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, said "the meeting is a good thing, but not sufficient."

"There is a need for a full reconciliation process to start, a transition" to democracy, he told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York.

"We believe it's very important for Mr. Gambari ... to be involved in the dialogue with regard to reconciliation," he said.

Mr. Khalilzad said Suu Kyi "has to be in circumstances where she can consult, meet with her party members, and have informed discussion with the government with regard to the transition, and those circumstances are not there."