VZCZCXYZ0013
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0806 2712149
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 282149Z SEP 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2678
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0545
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 0169
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 1912
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2864
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000806 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO, NEA, AND PRM; USAID FOR DCHA; GENEVA FOR 
NKYLOH; USEU FOR PBROWN; NSC FOR PMARCHAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL UNSC PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: A/SYG WAHLSTROM ON HER PROPOSED VISIT 
 
REF: STATE 131137 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  Following reftel request, on September 28 
USUN ECOSOC Minister Counselor met with Assistant Secretary 
General for Humanitarian Affairs Margareta Wahlstrom to 
discuss her proposed trip to Burma.  Wahlstrom's travel plans 
for mid-October include field trips to drought-affected 
areas, the Thai border region, and the western zone.  Despite 
current violence in Burma, Wahlstrom still hopes to travel 
and she has received no indication that the standing 
invitation of the Burmese government has been rescinded. 
USUN expressed objection to Wahlstrom's meeting with the head 
of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) 
and requested that she raise the issues outlined by the June 
2007 International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) 
statement in meetings with government officials.  USUN also 
requested that Wahlstrom report back following her mission, 
particularly on any progress in addressing the range of 
humanitarian concerns raised by ICRC.  End summary. 
 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Wahlstrom reported that her proposed trip to Burma, 
a follow-up to an April 2007 mission when she visited Rangoon 
and the new capital, is currently planned for mid-October and 
should include field travel to drought-affected areas, the 
Thai border region (specifically to enhance efforts at 
linking humanitarian information from within the country to 
information from the Thai Burmese Border Consortium), and the 
western zone/Rohingya area.  Wahlstrom noted that this agenda 
was developed at the suggestion of Burmese government 
officials during her April visit and in consultation with the 
UN Country Team.  On the timing of the trip, Wahlstrom 
stressed that her schedule was always planned to follow the 
visit of Special Envoy Gambari.  (Wahlstrom noted that 
Gambari will now arrive in Burma on Saturday, September 29). 
Asked how the current events in Burma might impact the timing 
of her visit, Wahlstrom replied that she has not received any 
indication from the Burmese that her invitation has been 
rescinded, but that she will be back in contact with the 
Burmese Ambassador in New York next week when UN General 
Assembly (UNGA) activity has slowed.  Wahlstrom stressed that 
if the Burmese government does not allow her to travel to the 
field she will postpone her trip until she is able to travel 
outside Rangoon.  (Note:  A vacancy announcement has been 
issued for Wahlstrom's post and she is expected to leave 
office at the end of October.  End note.) 
 
¶3.  (SBU) USUN emphasized that, particularly under the 
current circumstances, it would be inappropriate for 
Wahlstrom to meet with the head of the Union Solidarity and 
Development Association (USDA).  Wahlstrom did not directly 
answer, but noted the concern. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) USUN also requested that in meetings with 
government officials Wahlstrom press the issues outlined by 
the ICRC statement of late June 2007, particularly concerning 
restricted access and forced labor.  USUN requested that 
Wahlstrom report back on any progress by the government on 
these issues.  Wahlstrom noted that access had been a major 
focus of her first round of meetings in April and that it 
remains high on her agenda for the coming visit.  She stated 
that she was in close contact with ICRC and confirmed that 
there are many issues of common concern, but she also noted 
ICRC's sensitivity regarding representation from outside the 
Red Cross.  Wahlstrom pointed out that her trip itself, 
particularly the field visits, will provide a test of access. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Wahlstrom estimated that her mission will require 
at least a week.  She will meet with Gambari when he returns 
to New York (which she speculated could be as early as 
October 1 or 2) and she will also consult with the diplomatic 
community in Bangkok while she is in the region. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) USUN highlighted President Bush's announcement of 
increased humanitarian assistance for Burma in his recent 
address to UNGA.  USUN also emphasized that Wahlstrom's trip 
must send the right message during this critical time. 
Wahlstrom wholeheartedly agreed. 
KHALILZAD