Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK797
2007-09-27 01:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR RESTRAINT BY BURMESE

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM UNSC BM 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 270153Z SEP 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2659
INFO ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000797 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

BEIJING FOR A/S HILL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UNSC BM
SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR RESTRAINT BY BURMESE
AUTHORITIES AND SUPPORTS BAN'S IMMEDIATE DISPATCH OF GAMBARI

REF: USUN 785

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000797

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

BEIJING FOR A/S HILL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UNSC BM
SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR RESTRAINT BY BURMESE
AUTHORITIES AND SUPPORTS BAN'S IMMEDIATE DISPATCH OF GAMBARI

REF: USUN 785


1. (SBU) Begin Summary: After an extensive, two-hour
debate called to consider the events in Burma during closed
consultations September 26, the Security Council authorized
French PermRep Ripert, in his capacity as Council president,
to deliver an oral staQment to the press highlighting the
following points: the members of the Security Council met to
discuss the current situation in Burma; they expressed
concern about recent events; they called for restraint and
political dialogue; and they emphasized their support for SYG
Ban's statement reporting his urgent dispatch of Special
Envoy Gambari and call on the Burmese leadership to fully
cooperate with his mission, including receiving Gambari as
soon as possible. Although China, Russia and Qatar resisted
issuing a Council statement to the press, Ambassador
Khalilzad forcefully argued that because of the risk of
escalation it was imperative the Council act now and offer
public support for Gambari's engagement. End Summary.

Gambari Called to Security Council
--------------


2. (SBU) In response to the crackdown on demonstrations in
Burma, French PermRep Ripert, in his capacity as monthly
Council president, called for urgent consultations September

26. Ban's Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari, who had
briefed the Council September 20, relayed that the
Secretary-General was urgently dispatching him to the region

SIPDIS
to offer the UN's willingness to assist Burma with national
reconciliation. (NOTE: Gambari will travel September 26 to
Singapore where he will await word from Burma as to whether
he is granted access to the country. End Note.) Reporting
on the demonstrations and the government's reaction, Gambari
said: "Myanmar stands at a fork in the road." The
leadership can "regress to past practices" of oppression or
make the "brave but necessary choice" to overcome its
challenges as one nation. Over the past twenty years,
Gambari said, Myanmar, the region and the world had changed,
and the Burmese authorities needed to take this
transformation into account. He said they needed to allow
the UN and the international community to help them take

immediate steps to de-escalate tension and emphasize dialogue.


3. (SBU) Gambari also reported that he had met in New York
with the visiting Burmese Foreign Minister, who claimed that
the media was exaggerating the scale of the crisis. "Only
40,000 monks in Yangoon had demonstrated (sic)." The Foreign
Minister also claimed that opponents of the government had
instigated the demonstrations, and that the Burmese
authorities were exercising restraint. The Minister told
Gambari that the future of Burma was in the hands of the
Burmese government and people alone.


4. (SBU) Noting the risk of escalation and the need for the
Council to encourage the regime to move away from violence,
Ambassador Khalilzad called for a strong statement condemnQg
the violence, urging dialogue and a political settlement,
including the release of political prisoners. The time to
act is now, he said. He called on Burma's neighbors to
facilitate Gambari's visit and access to Burmese authorities
and opposition leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK).
When faced with repeated resistance by China to a Council
statement, Amb Khalilzad asked if the Council should be
indifferent to the fact that Gambari currently lacked an
invitation to Burma. He said: "In my view, we would not be
doing our job if we wait for the Burmese authorities to
'stabilize' the situation by killing people. Then Mr.
Gambari can come and visit the gravesites."

China, Russia, South Africa
--------------


5. (SBU) Chinese PermRep Wang reiterated China's
longstanding position that Burma is not an issue for the
Security Council because it does not affect international
peace and security, as well as China's adherence to the
principle of non-interference in another country's internal
affairs. He commented that the situation in Burma was not
clear, as there was only media coverage of the events. China
hoped to see stability in Burma and progress on the road to
democracy, Wang noted, but current events are a matter of
internal affairs and he hoped that the Burmese government and
people could "handle the situation." China, as a neighbor
that shares a 4,000 km border, and ASEAN, are better placed
to influence events in Burma. He also said that additional
outside sanctions would make the country more inaccessible.
Wang reaffirmed China's support for Gambari and the good
offices mission, but opposed any Council statement or action.


6. (SBU) Russian PR Churkin also restated Russia's belief
that Burma was not an appropriate issue for the Security
Council as the situation does not threaten international
peace and security. He concurred with Ambassador Khalilzad,
however, that there should be no escalation in the violence
and that there must be an open dialogue with all parties
Russia supports Gambari's efforts, he commented, but did not
believe that a trip "during such disarray" would yield
results. He concluded by calling on ASEAN to signal to Burma
that it should apply the maximum restraint and restore order.
He requested that Gambari convey the same message to both
the opposition and the government leaders. In a short
statement, South African PR Kumalo expressed support for
Gambari's visit and for a call by ASEAN to exercise
restraint. He said he thought Ban's statement adequately
represented the views of the UN, and directly asked Gambari
whether a statement by the Council would be helpful.

Council Reactions
--------------


7. (SBU) In a balanced statement, Indonesia echoed the
Council's sentiments of support for Gambari. PR Natalagawa
added that as a member of ASEAN, Indonesia urged Burma to
exercise restraint and ensure a peaceful resolution to the
situation. "Real progress must be made," he said.
Panamanian PR Arias offered full support to Gambari and the
good offices mission, adding that the Council cannot allow
the crisis to turn to the mass killings of the past. He
requested a formal Council meeting featuring presentations by
Burma and all neighboring states, including China. Though
expressing reservations unrelated to the issue at hand about
whether the Council should issue a statement, Arias
ultimately supported the effort.


8. (SBU) Qatari representative al-Qatani noted the
difficulty of confirming events in Burma because of the
limited information available. He agreed that Gambari should
go to Burma as soon as possible, recommending that he work
with "transparency and even-handedness." Though supportive
of the mission, Qatani alleged that a press statement by the
Council could be counterproductive, inspiring further unrest
and security problems. He asked for clarification about
reports that monks were abducing police and setting fire to
police vehicles (sic),and asked if the Council should act
every time there is a demonstration overseas.


9. (SBU) The Ghanaian representative expressed support for
action to prevent the escalation of the conflict and possible
fatalities. He said that the Council should "look to Gambari
and the countries in the region" given the differences in
approach evident in the Security Council's discussions.
Peruvian DPR Chaves argued there was more risk in Security
Council silence on Burma than a public statement of support.
He added that there were enough common elements among council
members to release a general statement of support.

European Countries Speak out Strongly
--------------


10. (SBU) All European delegations spoke strongly in favor
of a Council reaction. UK PermRep Sawers argued "now is the
time to pull the regime back from the brink and call for
reconciliation." He supported the Secretary-General's
dispatch of Gambari, and recalled Ban's statement to the UNGA
September 25 that "the age of impunity is dead." French
PermRep Ripert read a statement that echoed French President
Sarkozy on the need for a strong international response,
including sanctions. Belgium PermRep Verbeke urged ASEAN
partners to facilitate the Gambari mission by sending a
strong message to the Burmese regime. Italian PermRep
Spatafora concurred with Ambassador Khalilzad's
recommendation that the Security Council has a responsibility
to prevent the escalation of the crisis in Burma and needed
to act. The Slovakian representative said the world is
looking at the Security Council and waiting for a reaction in
support of the people of Burma.


11. (SBU) In summing up remarks, Gambari responded to the
South African PermRep's query about the utility of a Council
statement. The Special Envoy said a statement that urges the
Burmese authorities to exercise restraint and support my
mission would be helpful. Gambari cited the statement issued
by Singapore, the current chair of ASEAN, urging "the Myanmar
authorities to admit Mr. Gambari into Myanmar and grant him
full access to all players." With this reference to ASEAN
support, Council members reluctant for Ripert to speak to the
press about Gambari's urgent mission relented. Gambari also
noted that he had no information about unlawful action by
monks and commented that "of course we hold the authorities
to a greater degree of accountability."
KHALILZAD