GUIDANCE: REQUEST URGENT DEMARCHE OF SYG BAN ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 066806 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: GUIDANCE: REQUEST URGENT DEMARCHE OF SYG BAN ON BURMA TRAVEL Classified By: Acting DAS David Noble for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. ¶2. (C) Department requests USUN (acting by itself and not as part of the P3 or a wider group) to ask Secretary General Ban to share with the Burmese PermRep one of two messages. If Ban plans to travel to Burma, we would hope he would communicate the points in para 3. If Ban is not traveling to Burma, we would ask that he raise the points in para 4. ¶3. (C/REL UN, BM) If Ban plans to travel to Burma, we would hope that he would tell the Burmese PermRep: -- He expects a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi; -- The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi is unjustified and a major step backward for Burma's efforts to promote national reconciliation and to reengage with the international community. A decision to release her not only is the right thing to do, but would be warmly welcomed around the globe; and -- He expects Burma, as a member state of the UN, to abide by UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCR),including UNSCR 1874. In that regard, Burma would do well to quickly figure out a transparent way to inspect (e.g., in cooperation with another state, with a UN official present, through a private company, etc.) any DPRK ships that may be carrying suspect cargo which ask for bunkering services or attempt to dock in Burmese territory. It would be highly embarrassing to both Burma and to Ban to later have it become known that such ships carried contraband. ¶4. (C/REL UN. BM) If Ban does not plan to travel to Burma, he should deliver the same message as para 3, omitting the point about meeting Aung San Suu Kyi. CLINTON