APPROVED BUILDING BLOCKS FOR CONSULTATIONS ON

UNCLAS STATE 014899 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BM SUBJECT: APPROVED BUILDING BLOCKS FOR CONSULTATIONS ON BURMA ¶1. (U) USUN should draw from the building blocks in para 2 during consultations on Burma in the Security Council on Feburary 20 and with the Group of Friends on February 23. ¶2. (SBU) Following are Department and NSC-approved building blocks. BEGIN BUILDING BLOCKS -- A year and half has passed since the Security Council deplored the Burmese regime's violent repression of peaceful, pro-democracy protests. The October 2007 Presidential Statement condemned the regime's actions and called on the regime to: - immediately release all political prisoners and remaining detainees unconditionally; and - start a genuine, transparent, and time-bound political dialogue with the democratic opposition and ethnic minorities, with the support of the United Nations. -- We are disappointed that the issue we're discussing today remain the same as in 2007, because the regime has consistently failed to fulfill the conditions of the mandate of the Special Envoy and heed the calls specified in the October 2007 UN Security Council Presidential Statement. -- We note with concern that the regime has not engaged credibly with the United Nations and has rebuffed the Secretary-General's "good offices" mission. Unfortunately, this has meant that UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari's Good Offices Mission has not been able to secure concrete or tangible results from the regime. -- The international community and the UN Security Council must respond to the regime's continued flouting of the calls for action raised by this the Security Council, the UN Secretariat, and so many throughout the world. -- The full participation of democratic and ethnic minority leaders in substantive dialogue on democratic reforms is fundamental for Burma to achieve national reconciliation, peace, and stabiilty. Burma will be able to achieve these goals only when its government is able to speak on behalf, and with the the support of, its entire people, rather than a chosen few. -- Burma's intransigience is a threat to stability and a blight on the region. The regime's disregard for the basic rights and universal freedoms of its people has turned Burma from a prosperous nation to the main source of regional instability, as drugs, disease, and refugees spread and pose challenges to Burma's neighbors and other regional governments. Oppression, instability, and violence in Burma have broader implications, and in light of Burma's threat to regional security, regional governments, as well as the international community, must work together to push for reforms in Burma that reflect the will of the Burmese people. -- The problems facing the Burmese people are wide-ranging, and after 27 years of military rule, deep-rooted. The UN Security Council and the international community must be fully engaged in assisting the people of Burma to achieve peace, stability, universal human rights, and a future of hope, rather than fear. -- The United States remains committed to supporting the people of Burma. We continue to call on the world community, particularly Burma's neighbors, China, India, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations to work with us in pressing the regime for full cooperation in heeding calls of this body to address the challenges that have been raised today. END BUILDING BLOCKS CLINTON