Junta agreement opens door to more Myanmar aid

By Patrick Worsnip

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (Reuters) - Myanmar's junta agreed on Friday to admit foreign aid workers of all nationalities to the delta area worst hit by Cyclone Nargis, in what the U.N. called a breakthrough for aiding survivors.

Western disaster experts, largely kept out of the Irrawaddy Delta and restricted to the former capital Yangon, welcomed the news but wanted more details on the deal struck by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and junta supremo Than Shwe.

"The general said he saw no reason why that should not happen ... as long as they were genuine humanitarian workers and it was clear what they were going to be doing," a U.N. official with Ban said.

Asked whether the agreement on relief experts was a breakthrough, Ban replied: "Yes, I think so. He has agreed to allow all aid workers regardless of nationalities."

The U.N. chief said he hoped the agreement "can produce results quickly. Implementation is the key."

Disaster experts say that unless the generals open their doors, thousands more people in the Irrawaddy Delta could die of hunger and disease, adding to the nearly 134,000 reported killed or missing in Cyclone Nargis, which struck three weeks ago.

European Union humanitarian commissioner Louis Michel expressed relief at the news.

"It is now clear that our joint diplomatic efforts have delivered concrete results," he said in a statement.

"We have no more time to lose, so it's imperative that the Myanmar authorities immediately provide the international community with the practical details of the agreement. The real work of providing life-saving assistance starts now."

'NO' TO FRENCH AND U.S. SHIPS

The reclusive junta has accepted relief flights into Yangon from many countries, including the United States, its fiercest critic. But it has rejected offers of French and American naval vessels delivering aid.

U.N. officials said the ships were "a very sensitive idea for them -- any suggestion they should dock".

French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned the refusal to let the navy ship Mistral enter Myanmar territorial waters.

"I profoundly regret this decision. Once again the junta has made the wrong choice," Sarkozy said during a visit to Angola. He said France was still studying ways to deliver the aid, possibly by helicopter or via the nearest Thai port.

The United States said it would not keep its navy ships waiting indefinitely for the generals' permission.