Sunday, August17, 2008, 11:56 AM

New York, NY (BBN)- The United Nations Special Advisor on Burma, officially known as Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, is departing today for a five-day visit to the South-East Asian nation starting on 18 August, at the invitation of the government.

Mr. Gambari said that he looked forward to returning to Myanmar and continuing his consultations with the Government and other relevant parties in the implementation of the good offices mandate entrusted to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by the General Assembly, according to a UN press statement, issued on Friday.

It will be Mr. Gambari’s fourth visit to the country over the past year.

On previous visits, the special adviser met with senior Government officials, as well as the detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

BBN/SI/SI/AD-11:59 AM