Summary: The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 62/222. On 22 May 2007, the Secretary-General designated his Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Political Issues and former Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, to continue to pursue the good offices on his behalf. During the reporting period, from 23 October 2007 to 5 September 2008, the Special Adviser visited Myanmar three times at the invitation of the Government, in November 2007, March 2008 and August 2008. On each visit, the Special Adviser was able to engage with representatives of both the Government of Myanmar and the opposition. During his visits and in all his discussions with representatives of the Government, opposition and other stakeholders, the Special Adviser continued his efforts on behalf of the Secretary-General to promote national reconciliation, the restoration of democracy and respect for human rights in Myanmar, in accordance with the objectives of relevant General Assembly resolutions. To that end, the Special Adviser focused on the following five key areas of concern to the United Nations and the international community, as endorsed by the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General and in the Security Council: (a) the release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; (b) the need for an enhanced, substantive and time-bound dialogue between the Government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; (c) the need for an inclusive and credible political transition process to civilian and democratic government; (d) avenues for improving socio-economic conditions, including through a broad-based national mechanism; and (e) ways to regularize the process of mutual engagement and cooperation through the good offices process. In consultations with Member States, the Secretary-General and the Special Adviser also reiterated four guiding principles for the implementation of the Secretary-General?s good offices mandate, namely: (a) the good offices are a process, not an event, and require sustained engagement through regular visits and consultations with all concerned; (b) the situation in Myanmar requires comprehensive engagement on a broad range of political, human rights, humanitarian and socio-economic issues; (c) engagement cannot be an end in itself, but must yield concrete results; and (d) the international community needs to continue to work together constructively in support of the goals of the good offices. Following the designation, on 8 October 2007, of the Minister for Relations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, they both met together five times between November 2007 and January 2008. This marked the first attempt at a dialogue between the Government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi since 2003. In addition, for the first time in four years, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet twice with the Central Executive Committee of the National League for Democracy (NLD). On 9 February 2008, the Government of Myanmar for the first time made public a time frame for the next steps in its political ?road map? process towards the establishment of a civilian and democratic government, announcing that a national referendum on a draft constitution would be held in May 2008, followed by multiparty elections in 2010. On 2 May 2008, cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, leaving an estimated 140,000 people dead or missing, and an estimated 2.4 million people severely affected. In response to the cyclone, the Secretary-General visited Myanmar on 22 and 23 May 2008, marking the first visit to that country by a Secretary-General of the United Nations in 44 years. Following the Secretary-General?s discussions with State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe, access for international aid workers was facilitated, and a Tripartite Core Group coordination mechanism was set up between the Government of Myanmar, the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to facilitate an effective largescale humanitarian response. On 25 May 2008, the Secretary-General returned to Myanmar to co-chair a joint high-level pledging conference in Yangon with the Government of Myanmar and ASEAN. On 10 May 2008, the Government of Myanmar held a constitutional referendum as planned, despite the Secretary-General?s call to it to dedicate all available resources to the emergency humanitarian response as a matter of priority. Voting was postponed to 24 May 2008 in the 47 townships most affected by the cyclone. On 29 May 2008, the Government announced that the draft constitution had been formally adopted, with a reported 92.48 per cent approval and 98.12 per cent turnout of voters. On 27 May 2008, the Government of Myanmar extended the house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In a statement issued on the same day, the Secretary- General expressed his disappointment at the Government?s decision and stressed that the release and ability of all political prisoners to take part in the political process remained at the forefront of discussions with the Government of Myanmar in the context of his good offices. From 4 to 7 August 2008, the new Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Tom?s Ojea Quintana, made his first visit to Myanmar at the invitation of the Government. This followed a visit by his predecessor, Paulo S?rgio Pinheiro, in November 2007, at the behest of the Special Adviser, after four years without being granted access to the country. It also followed the adoption, on 28 March and 18 June 2008, by the Human Rights Council, of two resolutions (7/31 and 8/14) urging Myanmar, inter alia, to cooperate with the Special Adviser. Following the official announcement of the adoption of a new Constitution, the Government of Myanmar has expressed its determination to proceed with multiparty elections by 2010, the fifth step in its seven-step road map. At the same time, a number of key stakeholders, including NLD, have formally stated their rejection of the new Constitution and the process by which it was adopted. Thus, despite the Government?s efforts in implementing its road map process, the political situation in Myanmar has become even more complex and challenging, drawing increased attention from the international community. The Secretary-General and his Special Adviser have consistently emphasized that only a credible and inclusive political process — based on mutual understanding and compromise by all stakeholders — can help to advance the prospects of durable peace, national reconciliation, democracy and respect for human rights in Myanmar. In this regard, the support of the international community, including countries in the region, for the good offices of the Secretary-General and the work of his Special Adviser continue to be essential to the continuation of those efforts. The Secretary- General welcomes and encourages the constructive role played by Myanmar?s neighbours and ASEAN member States in support of his good offices and the work of his Special Adviser. He further welcomes the April 2008 conclusion by the European Council on Myanmar and the July 2008 statements by ASEAN, the Group of Eight, the East Asian Summit, and the ASEAN Regional Forum, which all expressed support for his good offices and for the continued efforts of his Special Adviser. While the spirit of cooperation between Myanmar and the United Nations has been marked by improvement in recent months, including through the visits of the Secretary-General and of his Special Adviser, it remains a source of frustration that meaningful steps with tangible results have yet to be taken by the Myanmar authorities in response to the concerns and expectations of the United Nations and the international community in the context of the good offices process. Ultimately, the future of Myanmar rests with the Government and people of Myanmar. The role of the United