BAN PROVIDES READOUT ON JULY BURMA TRIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000666 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2019 TAGS: PREL UNSC BM SUBJECT: BAN PROVIDES READOUT ON JULY BURMA TRIP Classified By: Ambassador Rice for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke by telephone with Ambassador Rice on July 6 to report on his July 3-4 trip to Burma. Ban said he delivered a very strong message to Senior General Than Shwe on human rights and release of political prisoners. He said he met with representatives from all political parties. He described the speech he gave in Burma to diplomatic missions, UN agencies and NGOs as unprecedented in its breadth, diversity and scope (including a statement in the speech that Burma's "human rights record remains a matter of deep concern"). ¶2. (C) Ban expressed disappointment that he was not allowed to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Despite two previous requests and a personal request to Than Shwe during their July 3 meeting, the request was denied. Ban reports that Than Shwe gave him assurances that the elections would be free and fair and that he would step down after the elections. According to Ban, Than Shwe also expressed anger toward Suu Kyi, commenting that he was open to releasing political prisoners, but was adamant that Suu Kyi would be off limits while she was still on trial. ¶3. (C) In assessing the effectiveness of his trip, Ban stated that overall, the trip was worthwhile, but acknowledged that other people had different views. RICE