Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUALALUMPUR976
2009-12-07 08:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIA LAUDS U.S. ENGAGEMENT OF BURMA BUT OFFERS
how-toVZCZCXRO9152 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0976 3410835 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 070835Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3550 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2878 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0690
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000976
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM BM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA LAUDS U.S. ENGAGEMENT OF BURMA BUT OFFERS
NO CONCRETE ACTION
REF: STATE 121789 -- PRESSING FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000976
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM BM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA LAUDS U.S. ENGAGEMENT OF BURMA BUT OFFERS
NO CONCRETE ACTION
REF: STATE 121789 -- PRESSING FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
1. (SBU) Polcouns and Poloff met with recently appointed MFA
Under Secretary Tan Yong Thai, who is responsible for
covering Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, for a courtesy
call and to discuss reftel demarche points on December 7,
2009. U/S Tan praised U.S. efforts to engage Burma and was
critical of Burma's lack of reciprocation, noting "the
Myanmar side needs to do its part." He opined that
"engagement is the only way forward, because it gives them
confidence to change their way," but added "this will take
time." Tan conceded he could not specify how much time it
would take, but added that Burma was "heading in the right
direction."
2. (SBU) Regarding the 2010 elections, Tan said "We'd like to
see all sides participate in the 2010 election," adding that
"all other ASEAN countries feel this way," but stopped short
of affirming that the GOM would push Burma to allow Aung San
Suu Kyi to meet with the NLD Central Executive Committee. He
added that the Burmese government's "credibility was at
stake" with their conduct in the upcoming elections. U/S Tan
reminded us that his government's position is for the
immediate release of ASSK, and that Malaysia along with other
ASEAN members were "always keeping up the pressure."
KEITH
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM BM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA LAUDS U.S. ENGAGEMENT OF BURMA BUT OFFERS
NO CONCRETE ACTION
REF: STATE 121789 -- PRESSING FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
1. (SBU) Polcouns and Poloff met with recently appointed MFA
Under Secretary Tan Yong Thai, who is responsible for
covering Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, for a courtesy
call and to discuss reftel demarche points on December 7,
2009. U/S Tan praised U.S. efforts to engage Burma and was
critical of Burma's lack of reciprocation, noting "the
Myanmar side needs to do its part." He opined that
"engagement is the only way forward, because it gives them
confidence to change their way," but added "this will take
time." Tan conceded he could not specify how much time it
would take, but added that Burma was "heading in the right
direction."
2. (SBU) Regarding the 2010 elections, Tan said "We'd like to
see all sides participate in the 2010 election," adding that
"all other ASEAN countries feel this way," but stopped short
of affirming that the GOM would push Burma to allow Aung San
Suu Kyi to meet with the NLD Central Executive Committee. He
added that the Burmese government's "credibility was at
stake" with their conduct in the upcoming elections. U/S Tan
reminded us that his government's position is for the
immediate release of ASSK, and that Malaysia along with other
ASEAN members were "always keeping up the pressure."
KEITH