CZECH NGO STAGES RALLY TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR UNSC

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000723 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE, EAP/BCLTV E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PHUM PREL BM EZ SUBJECT: CZECH NGO STAGES RALLY TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR UNSC RESOLUTION ON BURMA REF: STATE 89169 ¶1. (U) Poloff met Maria Perinova, Senior Program Director for Czech NGO People in Need (PIN),to discuss a rally on Burma organized by PIN in Prague on June 19 (the birthday of the Burmese democratic leader Aung San Syi Kyi). Perinova said the peaceful rally was to urge UNSC members to approve a resolution calling for democracy in Burma. (Note: the PIN proposal is consistent with the text of a draft UNSC resolution on Burma proposed by the U.S. on May 31, reftel. End note.) ¶2. (U) PIN representatives gathered in front of the embassies of the 14 UNSC members, read a statement prepared by former Czech President Vaclav Havel and Bishop Desmond Tutu, and presented a rose as a symbol of solidarity with the Burmese people. Representatives of all but four countries (China, Russia, Congo, and Ghana) welcomed the PIN representatives and issued a statement in support of adding Burma to the UNSC agenda. Representatives of the U.S., Slovakia, Greece, and Denmark expressed support for a UNSC resolution. The representative of Japan accepted the rose, but said the GOJ is still considering its position on the issue. CABANISS