ANOTHER UNSC 1874 DEMARCHE; BURMA REITERATES

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000392 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: ANOTHER UNSC 1874 DEMARCHE; BURMA REITERATES INTENT TO COOPERATE REF: A. STATE 64133 ¶B. RANGOON 387 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Larry Dinger for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) Burma Says It Will Respect UNSC Res. 1984 re North Korea -------------- -------------- ¶1. (C) The Burmese Government must respect UNSC resolutions, knows what it must do regarding Res. 1874, and intends to cooperate with the international community, including the United States, on this issue, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General (DG) for International Organizations, U Thant Kyaw. Foreign Minister Nyan Win, who reportedly is about to undertake an overseas trip, designated the IO DG to receive the Charge's demarche on ASEAN-related aspects of 1874 (Ref A). By the time that news arrived, the Rangoon DCM had conveyed the points to a MOFA DDG for Political Affairs on June 25 (Ref B). No Information about the Ship; Mention of Singapore -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) In Charge's conversation on June 26, the DG began by emphasizing that the GOB has "no information" about the North Korean ship that has been subject of media attention. The GOB is studying the matter and notes from media reports that the ship is still far from Burma, "not even to Singapore yet." The GOB asked the DPRK Ambassador about the matter, and he reported he has "no information regarding this ship." The DG said the GOB expects the ship would need to refuel, perhaps in Singapore, if it were on the way to Burma. The DG stressed his government is well aware that it "must respect" UNSC resolutions. Thus, the GOB is "working on it. We know what we have to do. We know how we must respond." GOB Says Will Be a Responsible ASEAN Member -------------- ¶3. (C) Charge emphasized the demarche themes on the importance of ASEAN governments behaving transparently regarding relationships with the DPRK and on the usefulness of ASEAN issuing a statement to confirm readiness to enforce Res. 1874. The DG suggested the ASEAN Chair (Thailand) should be the one to start consideration of any statement. If the Chair starts, Burma "will respond accordingly." As a "responsible member of ASEAN," Burma "will do what we must do." The Charge noted that issues related to Res. 1874 are likely to be in play for a considerable while, and he urged the GOB to keep the USG and UN informed of any Burma-related developments. The DG said his government will gladly work with the USG and others in that regard. He concluded by reiterating that the GOB is "puzzled" about how it has become a target of the media reports. He said again that his government has "no information, including from the DPRK," about the suspect ship. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Burmese authorities continue to assure us they intend to behave responsibly in helping implement Res. 1874. Given the recent history of Burma-DPRK collaborations, we will be pleasantly surprised if the GOB follows through over the long haul. For now, though, regarding the current North Korean ship transit, it appears there is willingness to cooperate. Whether that is an indicator about this particular ship's cargo is an interesting question which we leave to those who must judge "reasonable grounds to believe...." DINGER