Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUALALUMPUR1386
2007-09-13 07:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
BURMA: MALAYSIA SUPPORTIVE OF GAMBARI, BUT NOT
how-toVZCZCXRO6135 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #1386 2560710 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 130710Z SEP 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9945 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1030
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 001386
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR IO/UNP/WICKBERG, EAP/MLS/COPE, EAP/MTS AND DRL/PAZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2027
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BU MY
SUBJECT: BURMA: MALAYSIA SUPPORTIVE OF GAMBARI, BUT NOT
ENTHUSIASTIC ON UNSC ROLE
REF: A. STATE 125430 - SEEKING UNSC MEETING ON BURMA
B. KUALA LUMPUR 1375 - AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL
ON FM
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 001386
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR IO/UNP/WICKBERG, EAP/MLS/COPE, EAP/MTS AND DRL/PAZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2027
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BU MY
SUBJECT: BURMA: MALAYSIA SUPPORTIVE OF GAMBARI, BUT NOT
ENTHUSIASTIC ON UNSC ROLE
REF: A. STATE 125430 - SEEKING UNSC MEETING ON BURMA
B. KUALA LUMPUR 1375 - AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL
ON FM
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
1. (C) The Malaysian Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary for
Multilateral Political Affairs Division Shahrul Ikram, who
oversees UN matters, stated September 13 that Malaysia
supported Special Envoy Gambari's role, but did not agree
that his travel to Burma should be so closely tied to another
meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, in reaction to ref A demarche
presented by polchief. Malaysia did not have a strong view
on the possible briefing by Gambari at the UNSC and the
Foreign Ministry was not inclined to weigh in with Indonesia
one way or another. If Indonesia asked fellow ASEAN members,
Malaysia likely would not object to Indonesia supporting the
UNSC brief. Malaysia, however, did not believe Burma
constitutes an international security threat and the UNSC
thus had a limited role.
2. (C) ASEAN should maintain the leading role on Burma, and
Malaysia did not want the issue to be "hijacked by outside
parties," Shahrul stated. Polchief asked if ASEAN leadership
meant that ASEAN members had a plan and next steps for
pushing for democratic change in Burma. "We are not happy
with progress in Myanmar," Shahrul responded, but "frankly
speaking" ASEAN members appeared "not quite sure" on how to
proceed. In any event, Malaysia and other ASEAN members did
not share the same sense of urgency as the U.S., he added.
The ASEAN way would focus on long-term changes in Burma,
working through non-confrontational means and consensus
within ASEAN itself.
3. (C) As reported ref B, the Ambassador raised Burma during
his September 3-4 farewell discussions with Foreign Minister
Syed Hamid Albar. The Foreign Minister expressed support for
Gambari, while backing ASEAN leadership on the Burma issue
and arguing for engagement over sanctions.
LAFLEUR
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR IO/UNP/WICKBERG, EAP/MLS/COPE, EAP/MTS AND DRL/PAZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2027
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BU MY
SUBJECT: BURMA: MALAYSIA SUPPORTIVE OF GAMBARI, BUT NOT
ENTHUSIASTIC ON UNSC ROLE
REF: A. STATE 125430 - SEEKING UNSC MEETING ON BURMA
B. KUALA LUMPUR 1375 - AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL
ON FM
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
1. (C) The Malaysian Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary for
Multilateral Political Affairs Division Shahrul Ikram, who
oversees UN matters, stated September 13 that Malaysia
supported Special Envoy Gambari's role, but did not agree
that his travel to Burma should be so closely tied to another
meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, in reaction to ref A demarche
presented by polchief. Malaysia did not have a strong view
on the possible briefing by Gambari at the UNSC and the
Foreign Ministry was not inclined to weigh in with Indonesia
one way or another. If Indonesia asked fellow ASEAN members,
Malaysia likely would not object to Indonesia supporting the
UNSC brief. Malaysia, however, did not believe Burma
constitutes an international security threat and the UNSC
thus had a limited role.
2. (C) ASEAN should maintain the leading role on Burma, and
Malaysia did not want the issue to be "hijacked by outside
parties," Shahrul stated. Polchief asked if ASEAN leadership
meant that ASEAN members had a plan and next steps for
pushing for democratic change in Burma. "We are not happy
with progress in Myanmar," Shahrul responded, but "frankly
speaking" ASEAN members appeared "not quite sure" on how to
proceed. In any event, Malaysia and other ASEAN members did
not share the same sense of urgency as the U.S., he added.
The ASEAN way would focus on long-term changes in Burma,
working through non-confrontational means and consensus
within ASEAN itself.
3. (C) As reported ref B, the Ambassador raised Burma during
his September 3-4 farewell discussions with Foreign Minister
Syed Hamid Albar. The Foreign Minister expressed support for
Gambari, while backing ASEAN leadership on the Burma issue
and arguing for engagement over sanctions.
LAFLEUR