UNSCR 1874: UPDATE FROM MFA SECOND PERMSEC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000594 FOR ISN, EAP, IO, USUN AND T E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2029 TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC KN SN SUBJECT: UNSCR 1874: UPDATE FROM MFA SECOND PERMSEC BILAHARI KAUSIKAN REF: A) SINGAPORE 586 B) STATE 64133 Classified By: CDA Daniel Shields for Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Singapore MFA Second Permanent Secretary Bilahari Kausikan told CDA on June 24 that, at China's suggestion, Chinese and ASEAN officials discussed the U.S. demarche (reftels) regarding North Korea and UNSCR 1874, in the course of the 15th China-ASEAN Senior Officials Consultations held in Nanjing beginning June 24. The thrust of the discussion was that Thailand will inform the USG that ASEAN will comply with UNSCR 1874. There was no clear decision about an ASEAN statement. Some were puzzled over why an ASEAN statement would be required, given that every UNSC resolution is binding, Kausikan said. CDA noted to Kausikan that it seems strange that anyone would be puzzled by the idea of an ASEAN statement supporting UNSCR 1874, given how common it is for international groupings to issue statements expressing support for UNSC resolutions. ¶2. (C) Kausikan said the Burmese Senior Official in Nanjing, Thaung Tun, said Burma will fully comply with UNSCR 1874 and has no difficulty in doing so. A senior Burmese diplomat at the UN made a similar statement to Singapore officials. Singapore officials asked Thaung Tun if Burma would issue a statement confirming that this is the Burmese position. Thaung Tun said he would report the idea to his capital, Kausikan stated. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm SHIELDS