Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SINGAPORE2011
2007-11-05 10:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
BURMA: S LETTER DELIVERED; GOS DISAPPOINTED BY UN
how-toVZCZCXRO7836 PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHVC DE RUEHGP #2011 3091006 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051006Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4361 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2024 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1861 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4126 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5747 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1369 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0112
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 002011
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM BM SN
SUBJECT: BURMA: S LETTER DELIVERED; GOS DISAPPOINTED BY UN
CHIEF EXPULSION
REF: A. STATE 152336
B. RANGOON 1084
Classified By: E/P Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 002011
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM BM SN
SUBJECT: BURMA: S LETTER DELIVERED; GOS DISAPPOINTED BY UN
CHIEF EXPULSION
REF: A. STATE 152336
B. RANGOON 1084
Classified By: E/P Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
1. (SBU) E/P Chief delivered the Secretary's letter to
Foreign Minister Yeo (Ref A) to MFA Southeast Asia
Directorate Deputy Director Pong Kok Tian November 5. Pong
noted that FM Yeo is currently in Jakarta, that Thursday,
November 8, is a local holiday, and that FM Yeo plans to
travel to New Delhi to discuss Burma, possibly as early as
November 10 or 11. He suggested that Friday, November 9,
might be the best time to reach FM Yeo in his office.
UNDP Coordinator Expulsion
--------------
2. (C) Pong told us that Singapore was disappointed by
Burma's decision to expel UNDP Resident Coordinator Petrie
(Ref B). He noted that MFA had issued a statement (see para
4 below) to signal to the regime that this was not helpful
and that Singapore was watching. Pong thought the regime's
move was unrelated to UN Special Advisor Gambari's November
3-7 visit to Burma, but rather reflected the regime's anger
over Petrie's statements linking political unrest to its
economic mismanagement.
Supporting Gambari
--------------
3. (C) Pong said that FM Yeo's recent visits to Beijing and
Tokyo and planned visit to New Delhi were aimed at bolstering
the efforts of Gambari, who has the only effective channel
with the regime. Pong was optimistic that Gambari's visit
would produce some progress, such as a concrete indication
the regime will enter a genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu
Kyi and the opposition. However, he refused to be drawn on
how Singapore would define success, saying it would be up to
Gambari to assess whether the trip was a success or not.
Pong reiterated that Burma would be discussed at the November
18-21 ASEAN-related summit meetings in Singapore, but
indicated the tone of those discussions would depend on
whether Gambari had been able to make progress in Burma. E/P
Chief stressed that we are looking to ASEAN to maintain
pressure on the regime in the run up to and after the summit
meetings.
MFA Statement
--------------
4. (U) Begin Text of MFA's November 3 statement:
Commenting on the announcement by the Government of the Union
of Myanmar on the Discontinuation of Assignment of the UNDP
Resident Coordinator in Myanmar the MFA Spokesman said:
"Singapore is deeply disappointed to learn of the Myanmar
government's decision to discontinue the assignment of the
UNDP Resident Coordinator Charles James Petrie in Myanmar.
This announcement has come at a most inopportune time, just
before the arrival of UNSG Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari.
It also sends an inconsistent message about Myanmar's
willingness to continue engaging the UN in improving its
domestic political and socio-economic situation.
Singapore urges the Myanmar government to continue keeping up
its engagement with the UNDP and UNSG Good Offices, as they
offer hope for Myanmar to resolve key socio-economic
problems, and to work towards peaceful national
reconciliation with all groups in the country."
End Text of MFA Statement.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM BM SN
SUBJECT: BURMA: S LETTER DELIVERED; GOS DISAPPOINTED BY UN
CHIEF EXPULSION
REF: A. STATE 152336
B. RANGOON 1084
Classified By: E/P Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
1. (SBU) E/P Chief delivered the Secretary's letter to
Foreign Minister Yeo (Ref A) to MFA Southeast Asia
Directorate Deputy Director Pong Kok Tian November 5. Pong
noted that FM Yeo is currently in Jakarta, that Thursday,
November 8, is a local holiday, and that FM Yeo plans to
travel to New Delhi to discuss Burma, possibly as early as
November 10 or 11. He suggested that Friday, November 9,
might be the best time to reach FM Yeo in his office.
UNDP Coordinator Expulsion
--------------
2. (C) Pong told us that Singapore was disappointed by
Burma's decision to expel UNDP Resident Coordinator Petrie
(Ref B). He noted that MFA had issued a statement (see para
4 below) to signal to the regime that this was not helpful
and that Singapore was watching. Pong thought the regime's
move was unrelated to UN Special Advisor Gambari's November
3-7 visit to Burma, but rather reflected the regime's anger
over Petrie's statements linking political unrest to its
economic mismanagement.
Supporting Gambari
--------------
3. (C) Pong said that FM Yeo's recent visits to Beijing and
Tokyo and planned visit to New Delhi were aimed at bolstering
the efforts of Gambari, who has the only effective channel
with the regime. Pong was optimistic that Gambari's visit
would produce some progress, such as a concrete indication
the regime will enter a genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu
Kyi and the opposition. However, he refused to be drawn on
how Singapore would define success, saying it would be up to
Gambari to assess whether the trip was a success or not.
Pong reiterated that Burma would be discussed at the November
18-21 ASEAN-related summit meetings in Singapore, but
indicated the tone of those discussions would depend on
whether Gambari had been able to make progress in Burma. E/P
Chief stressed that we are looking to ASEAN to maintain
pressure on the regime in the run up to and after the summit
meetings.
MFA Statement
--------------
4. (U) Begin Text of MFA's November 3 statement:
Commenting on the announcement by the Government of the Union
of Myanmar on the Discontinuation of Assignment of the UNDP
Resident Coordinator in Myanmar the MFA Spokesman said:
"Singapore is deeply disappointed to learn of the Myanmar
government's decision to discontinue the assignment of the
UNDP Resident Coordinator Charles James Petrie in Myanmar.
This announcement has come at a most inopportune time, just
before the arrival of UNSG Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari.
It also sends an inconsistent message about Myanmar's
willingness to continue engaging the UN in improving its
domestic political and socio-economic situation.
Singapore urges the Myanmar government to continue keeping up
its engagement with the UNDP and UNSG Good Offices, as they
offer hope for Myanmar to resolve key socio-economic
problems, and to work towards peaceful national
reconciliation with all groups in the country."
End Text of MFA Statement.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD