Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING1333
2008-04-09 09:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
MFA EXPRESSES "SERIOUS CONCERNS" OVER PROPOSED UN
how-toVZCZCXRO7219 OO RUEHAG RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHROV RUEHTRO RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #1333 1000917 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 090917Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6377 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 9607 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 4523 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 4037 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 0620
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001333
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2028
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC CH BM
SUBJECT: MFA EXPRESSES "SERIOUS CONCERNS" OVER PROPOSED UN
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ON BURMA
REF: STATE 36706 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 b, d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001333
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2028
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC CH BM
SUBJECT: MFA EXPRESSES "SERIOUS CONCERNS" OVER PROPOSED UN
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ON BURMA
REF: STATE 36706 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 b, d.
1. (C) POLOFF on April 9 conveyed to MFA reftel points urging
China to support a UN Security Council
Presidential Statement (PRST) on Burma. Noting that UN
Special Advior Gambari has said a PRST would be helpful to
his mission and that after a total of five Gambari visits the
Burmese government still refuses to take meaningful steps
toward real reform, POLOFF said China's usual calls for
"patience" are untenable. The Burmese Government's continued
detention of democratic leaders, new arrests of peaceful
protestors, and refusal to engage in real dialogue with
opposition and ethnic minority representatives show flagrant
disrespect for the legitimate concerns of the UNSC and the
international community.
2. (C) MFA International Organizations and Conferences
Department UN Division Deputy Director Sun Xiaobo noted in
response that U.S. and Chinese representatives have been
discussing a Burma PRST in New York and that China's New York
delegation is under instructions from Beijing. China, he
said, has "serious concerns" about both the timing and the
content of the proposed PRST on Burma. Sun said that China
regards Burma's commitment to a timetable for implementing
the "seven-step road map to democracy" as important progress.
Sun noted that the Burmese Government has complained that
after each Gambari visit, it is the object of UNSC and
international criticism. A PRST risks gravely damaging the
trust between the Burmese government and the UN, Sun said.
The Burmese Government's decision to cooperate with the UN
was a difficult one, and the UNSC now must act very
cautiously rather than risk harming the process through
ill-advised actions. POLOFF responded that Gambari himself
has said that a PRST would be helpful to his mission.
3. (C) Sun said China also has strong concerns over the
specific text of the proposed PRST, which touches on Burma's
constitution and electoral system. Burma is a sovereign
state, and each sovereign state seeks its own path. "There
is no one-size-fits-all" formula as to what type of
government Burma should have. POLOFF responded that the PRST
text does not go beyond what China has already supported in
the previous PRST on Burma. In any case, substantive
benchmarks of progress are quite appropriate since Burma's
obligation to conduct the May referendum in a free and fair
manner that meets international standards is not simply an
abstract idea.
4. (C) Sun reiterated that China has serious concerns over
the text but promised to convey our message to his superiors.
RANDT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2028
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC CH BM
SUBJECT: MFA EXPRESSES "SERIOUS CONCERNS" OVER PROPOSED UN
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ON BURMA
REF: STATE 36706 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 b, d.
1. (C) POLOFF on April 9 conveyed to MFA reftel points urging
China to support a UN Security Council
Presidential Statement (PRST) on Burma. Noting that UN
Special Advior Gambari has said a PRST would be helpful to
his mission and that after a total of five Gambari visits the
Burmese government still refuses to take meaningful steps
toward real reform, POLOFF said China's usual calls for
"patience" are untenable. The Burmese Government's continued
detention of democratic leaders, new arrests of peaceful
protestors, and refusal to engage in real dialogue with
opposition and ethnic minority representatives show flagrant
disrespect for the legitimate concerns of the UNSC and the
international community.
2. (C) MFA International Organizations and Conferences
Department UN Division Deputy Director Sun Xiaobo noted in
response that U.S. and Chinese representatives have been
discussing a Burma PRST in New York and that China's New York
delegation is under instructions from Beijing. China, he
said, has "serious concerns" about both the timing and the
content of the proposed PRST on Burma. Sun said that China
regards Burma's commitment to a timetable for implementing
the "seven-step road map to democracy" as important progress.
Sun noted that the Burmese Government has complained that
after each Gambari visit, it is the object of UNSC and
international criticism. A PRST risks gravely damaging the
trust between the Burmese government and the UN, Sun said.
The Burmese Government's decision to cooperate with the UN
was a difficult one, and the UNSC now must act very
cautiously rather than risk harming the process through
ill-advised actions. POLOFF responded that Gambari himself
has said that a PRST would be helpful to his mission.
3. (C) Sun said China also has strong concerns over the
specific text of the proposed PRST, which touches on Burma's
constitution and electoral system. Burma is a sovereign
state, and each sovereign state seeks its own path. "There
is no one-size-fits-all" formula as to what type of
government Burma should have. POLOFF responded that the PRST
text does not go beyond what China has already supported in
the previous PRST on Burma. In any case, substantive
benchmarks of progress are quite appropriate since Burma's
obligation to conduct the May referendum in a free and fair
manner that meets international standards is not simply an
abstract idea.
4. (C) Sun reiterated that China has serious concerns over
the text but promised to convey our message to his superiors.
RANDT