SEPTEMBER 27 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: BURMA, SIX PARTY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006339 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV CH KN KS RS BM SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 27 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: BURMA, SIX PARTY TALKS, MISSING RUSSIANS ¶1. Key points at the September 27 MFA Press Briefing were: -- China hopes all parties in Burma can "exercise restraint" so as to avoid escalation of the situation. China also urged the press to report truthfully and avoid "exaggerated hype." -- The Six-Party Talks are set to begin this evening. China hopes that all parties can work together to achieve positive results. -- Chinese heavy fuel assistance to the DPRK was recently completed. -- China has seen the reports of Syrian-DPRK cooperation. China has a consistent position on nonproliferation and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula will be good for non-proliferation. -- Of six missing Russians in Xinjiang, two have been rescued, the remains of three others have been located and one remains missing. China maintains hope and will not give up the search. -- VISITS: Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will visit China October 2-3 to attend the Special Olympics in Shanghai and then visit Shandong province. China Hopes for "Restraint" In Burma -------------- ¶2. At the September 27 regular MFA press briefing, spokeswoman Jiang Yu said China has been closely following the situation in Burma and hopes that all parties exercise restraint so as to avoid escalation or a negative effect on regional stability. She also expressed hope that the press would report on the situation in Myanmar truthfully with no "exaggerated hype." Some in the press had attacked China out of "ulterior motives," she said. Asked to clarify, Jiang said everyone had read the reports and seen examples. Asked if China would support a UN Security Council Resolution on Burma, she said the Security Council had discussed this topic and the Chair had spoken to the press. She said the international community should provide "constructive assistance" to relax the situation in Myanmar and China supports the mediation of the UN Secretary General. Asked if any high-level visits had taken place between China and Burma, she said she had no information but had already made China's position clear. Asked specifically if China condemned the violence in Myanmar, Jiang refused to answer because the journalist asking "had come late to the press conference." Six-Party Talks and Fuel Aid to DPRK -------------- ¶3. Asked if China had completed shipping heavy fuel to the DPRK and if that would influence the Six-Party Talks, Jiang said that the fuel shipment was complete. She said the opening phase of the Six-Party Talks would take place the same evening and China is ready to work to finalize a joint statement to move the talks forward. She hoped that all parties could work together to achieve results. Asked about specifics of the oil shipment and a timetable for disablement of nuclear facilities in the DPRK, Jiang responded only that the oil arrived "recently" and that details of disablement would be discussed in the Six-Party Talks. Syria and the DPRK -------------- ¶4. Asked if the reports of DPRK nuclear collaboration with Syria would impact the Six-Party Talks, Jiang said she had seen the reports and statements. She said China has a clear and consistent policy on nonproliferation and that denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula would be good for nonproliferation. The Search for Missing Russians -------------- ¶5. China made a great effort to mobilize joint search-and-rescue efforts that led to the rescue of two Russians missing in Xinjiang and the recovery of the remains of three others. Jiang said that while joint search efforts with Russia had ended yesterday, China will not give up hope or cease its efforts to find the final missing Russian. ¶6. VISITS: Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit China October 2-3 to attend the Special Olympics in BEIJING 00006339 002 OF 002 Shanghai and then visit Shandong province. Randt