Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING3319
2008-08-27 11:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
CHINESE MFA VIEWS POSITIVELY GAMBARI VISIT TO BURMA
how-toVZCZCXRO9548 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #3319 2401104 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271104Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9574 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003319
SIPDIS
RANGOON 679 AND PREVIOUS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BM CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE MFA VIEWS POSITIVELY GAMBARI VISIT TO BURMA
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 003319
SIPDIS
RANGOON 679 AND PREVIOUS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BM CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE MFA VIEWS POSITIVELY GAMBARI VISIT TO BURMA
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) In an August 27 meeting also devoted to Georgia
(septel),MFA International Organizations and Conferences
Department UN Division Acting Director Sun Xiaobo told POLOFF
(and accompanying UK and French Embassy PolOffs) that during
the recent visit of UN Special Advisor Gambari the Burmese
Government "had shown flexibility" and "made some efforts" to
be accommodating. Though Gambari did not meet Burmese Senior
General Than Shwe, he did meet Prime Minister Thein Sein and
other senior officials. Though opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi refused to meet Gambari, Gambari succeeded in meeting
other senior National League for Democracy (NLD) figures.
Moreover, the Burmese Government offered responses on each of
Gambari's five substantive proposals. In sum, China believes
that during his visit Gambari "made some achievements."
2. (C) POLOFF said that the U.S. view of the Burmese regime's
cooperation with the Gambari mission is quite different from
China's. Though the United States supports Gambari's
mission, the recent visit made little progress, which
reflected the nearly total lack of cooperation from the
Burmese Government. Sun replied that China believes that
diplomatic efforts in Burma require "patience and
persistence." China has consistently supported the "good
offices" of the UN Secretary General (UNSYG) and his
representatives. The UNSYG's work should be encouraged, and
now is not the time to shift focus to some other mechanism,
Sun said. In response to UK PolOff's query on what results
China expects from the upcoming visit to Burma of UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Sun offered no substantive
reply. Sun noted that the Burmese Government said there is
"no reason to refuse" the UNSYG visit, but any outcomes will
need to be agreed through negotiation.
RANDT
SIPDIS
RANGOON 679 AND PREVIOUS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BM CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE MFA VIEWS POSITIVELY GAMBARI VISIT TO BURMA
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) In an August 27 meeting also devoted to Georgia
(septel),MFA International Organizations and Conferences
Department UN Division Acting Director Sun Xiaobo told POLOFF
(and accompanying UK and French Embassy PolOffs) that during
the recent visit of UN Special Advisor Gambari the Burmese
Government "had shown flexibility" and "made some efforts" to
be accommodating. Though Gambari did not meet Burmese Senior
General Than Shwe, he did meet Prime Minister Thein Sein and
other senior officials. Though opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi refused to meet Gambari, Gambari succeeded in meeting
other senior National League for Democracy (NLD) figures.
Moreover, the Burmese Government offered responses on each of
Gambari's five substantive proposals. In sum, China believes
that during his visit Gambari "made some achievements."
2. (C) POLOFF said that the U.S. view of the Burmese regime's
cooperation with the Gambari mission is quite different from
China's. Though the United States supports Gambari's
mission, the recent visit made little progress, which
reflected the nearly total lack of cooperation from the
Burmese Government. Sun replied that China believes that
diplomatic efforts in Burma require "patience and
persistence." China has consistently supported the "good
offices" of the UN Secretary General (UNSYG) and his
representatives. The UNSYG's work should be encouraged, and
now is not the time to shift focus to some other mechanism,
Sun said. In response to UK PolOff's query on what results
China expects from the upcoming visit to Burma of UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Sun offered no substantive
reply. Sun noted that the Burmese Government said there is
"no reason to refuse" the UNSYG visit, but any outcomes will
need to be agreed through negotiation.
RANDT