The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes with satisfaction the official announcements issued on February 9 by the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council of plans for a national referendum to be held this May on a draft constitution of the Union of Myanmar, followed by general multiparty parliamentary elections in 2010.

The Russian side hopes that the determination of the distinct time parameters to implement the next phases of political change in Myanmar, envisaged by the well-known Roadmap and aimed at moving to a civilian democratic form of rule, will help reduce tension being fanned by certain countries around the so called Myanmar question and will constitute an additional impulse to intensify the dialogue of all concerned political forces within Myanmar on the issues of the future of that state.