Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUALALUMPUR1610
2007-11-09 09:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
BURMA: MALAYSIA MFA WANTS GAMBARI TO PLAY ROLE IN
VZCZCXRO2659 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #1610 3130939 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 090939Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0221 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2399 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2415 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0354 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0729 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1049
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 001610
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS AND IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM BM MY
SUBJECT: BURMA: MALAYSIA MFA WANTS GAMBARI TO PLAY ROLE IN
DIALOGUE
REF: A. RAPSON EMAIL RECEIVED 9 NOV 2007
B. EAP PRESS GUIDANCE 8 NOV 2007
C. KUALA LUMPUR 1563 - BURMA'S ASEAN SUMMIT
PARTICIPATION
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 001610
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS AND IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM BM MY
SUBJECT: BURMA: MALAYSIA MFA WANTS GAMBARI TO PLAY ROLE IN
DIALOGUE
REF: A. RAPSON EMAIL RECEIVED 9 NOV 2007
B. EAP PRESS GUIDANCE 8 NOV 2007
C. KUALA LUMPUR 1563 - BURMA'S ASEAN SUMMIT
PARTICIPATION
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
1. (C) Polchief spoke with the Malaysian Foreign Ministry's
Southeast Asia and South Pacific Division chief Rahimi Harun
on November 9, and conveyed ref A points on Burma welcoming
Aung San Suu Kyi's call for meaningful dialogue and raising
concern over the regime's rejection of UN Special Advisor
Gambari's proposal to help initiate the process. Rahimi
responded that the MFA had yet to receive a report from their
Rangoon embassy on Gambari's latest mission, and thanked
polchief for sharing information on what had transpired.
Malaysia would await Gambari's views before making an
assessment or drawing conclusions in the run-up to the ASEAN
summit. The international community could not expect
Gambari's mission to unfold smoothly. It would be a concern,
however, if the Burmese regime rejected Gambari's role in a
future dialogue, as Rahimi was not convinced that bipartite
talks without Gambari's presence would make any progress.
"It is very crucial for Gambari to play the broker." To be
effective, Rahimi added, Gambari should remain somewhat
"neutral," and would need to take into account the Burmese
generals' concerns over Gambari's role.
2. (C) Separately, we received a readout of the British High
Commissioner's November 6 discussion with MFA Secretary
General Rastam on the subject of Burma. Malaysia strongly
supported Gambari's mission, Rastam reiterated. He
recognized that, if Gambari's latest mission failed, ASEAN
would have to react accordingly at the Singapore Summit and
more criticism of the Burmese regime would be likely. Rastam
stressed the need for a future role for the military in
Burma, but offered no particular ideas. Rastam argued
against the effectiveness of sanctions and welcomed thoughts
on future "carrots."
KEITH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS AND IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM BM MY
SUBJECT: BURMA: MALAYSIA MFA WANTS GAMBARI TO PLAY ROLE IN
DIALOGUE
REF: A. RAPSON EMAIL RECEIVED 9 NOV 2007
B. EAP PRESS GUIDANCE 8 NOV 2007
C. KUALA LUMPUR 1563 - BURMA'S ASEAN SUMMIT
PARTICIPATION
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
1. (C) Polchief spoke with the Malaysian Foreign Ministry's
Southeast Asia and South Pacific Division chief Rahimi Harun
on November 9, and conveyed ref A points on Burma welcoming
Aung San Suu Kyi's call for meaningful dialogue and raising
concern over the regime's rejection of UN Special Advisor
Gambari's proposal to help initiate the process. Rahimi
responded that the MFA had yet to receive a report from their
Rangoon embassy on Gambari's latest mission, and thanked
polchief for sharing information on what had transpired.
Malaysia would await Gambari's views before making an
assessment or drawing conclusions in the run-up to the ASEAN
summit. The international community could not expect
Gambari's mission to unfold smoothly. It would be a concern,
however, if the Burmese regime rejected Gambari's role in a
future dialogue, as Rahimi was not convinced that bipartite
talks without Gambari's presence would make any progress.
"It is very crucial for Gambari to play the broker." To be
effective, Rahimi added, Gambari should remain somewhat
"neutral," and would need to take into account the Burmese
generals' concerns over Gambari's role.
2. (C) Separately, we received a readout of the British High
Commissioner's November 6 discussion with MFA Secretary
General Rastam on the subject of Burma. Malaysia strongly
supported Gambari's mission, Rastam reiterated. He
recognized that, if Gambari's latest mission failed, ASEAN
would have to react accordingly at the Singapore Summit and
more criticism of the Burmese regime would be likely. Rastam
stressed the need for a future role for the military in
Burma, but offered no particular ideas. Rastam argued
against the effectiveness of sanctions and welcomed thoughts
on future "carrots."
KEITH