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.

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-- 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.
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CLINTON