O 270153Z SEP 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2659
INFO ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000797 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
BEIJING FOR A/S HILL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UNSC BM
SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR RESTRAINT BY BURMESE 
AUTHORITIES AND SUPPORTS BAN'S IMMEDIATE DISPATCH OF GAMBARI 
 
REF: USUN 785 
 
 ¶1.  (SBU) Begin Summary:  After an extensive, two-hour 
debate called to consider the events in Burma during closed 
consultations September 26, the Security Council authorized 
French PermRep Ripert, in his capacity as Council president, 
to deliver an oral staQment to the press highlighting the 
following points: the members of the Security Council met to 
discuss the current situation in Burma; they expressed 
concern about recent events; they called for restraint and 
political dialogue; and they emphasized their support for SYG 
Ban's statement reporting his urgent dispatch of Special 
Envoy Gambari and call on the Burmese leadership to fully 
cooperate with his mission, including receiving Gambari as 
soon as possible.  Although China, Russia and Qatar resisted 
issuing a Council statement to the press, Ambassador 
Khalilzad forcefully argued that because of the risk of 
escalation it was imperative the Council act now and offer 
public support for Gambari's engagement.  End Summary. 
 
Gambari Called to Security Council 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) In response to the crackdown on demonstrations in 
Burma, French PermRep Ripert, in his capacity as monthly 
Council president, called for urgent consultations September 
¶26.   Ban's Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari, who had 
briefed the Council September 20, relayed that the 
Secretary-General was urgently dispatching him to the region 
 
SIPDIS 
to offer the UN's willingness to assist Burma with national 
reconciliation.  (NOTE:  Gambari will travel September 26 to 
Singapore where he will await word from Burma as to whether 
he is granted access to the country.  End Note.)  Reporting 
on the demonstrations and the government's reaction, Gambari 
said:   "Myanmar stands at a fork in the road."  The 
leadership can "regress to past practices" of oppression or 
make the "brave but necessary choice" to overcome its 
challenges as one nation.  Over the past twenty years, 
Gambari said, Myanmar, the region and the world had changed, 
and the Burmese authorities needed to take this 
transformation into account.  He said they needed to allow 
the UN and the international community to help them take 
immediate steps to de-escalate tension and emphasize dialogue. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Gambari also reported that he had met in New York 
with the visiting Burmese Foreign Minister, who claimed that 
the media was exaggerating the scale of the crisis.  "Only 
40,000 monks in Yangoon had demonstrated (sic)."  The Foreign 
Minister also claimed that opponents of the government had 
instigated the demonstrations, and that the Burmese 
authorities were exercising restraint.  The Minister told 
Gambari that the future of Burma was in the hands of the 
Burmese government and people alone. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Noting the risk of escalation and the need for the 
Council to encourage the regime to move away from violence, 
Ambassador Khalilzad called for a strong statement condemnQg 
the violence, urging dialogue and a political settlement, 
including the release of political prisoners.  The time to 
act is now, he said.  He called on Burma's neighbors to 
facilitate Gambari's visit and access to Burmese authorities 
and opposition leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK). 
When faced with repeated resistance by China to a Council 
statement, Amb Khalilzad asked if the Council should be 
indifferent to the fact that Gambari currently lacked an 
invitation to Burma.  He said:  "In my view, we would not be 
doing our job if we wait for the Burmese authorities to 
'stabilize' the situation by killing people.  Then Mr. 
Gambari can come and visit the gravesites." 
 
China, Russia, South Africa 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Chinese PermRep Wang reiterated China's 
longstanding position that Burma is not an issue for the 
Security Council because it does not affect international 
peace and security, as well as China's adherence to the 
principle of non-interference in another country's internal 
affairs.  He commented that the situation in Burma was not 
clear, as there was only media coverage of the events.  China 
hoped to see stability in Burma and progress on the road to 
democracy, Wang noted, but current events are a matter of 
internal affairs and he hoped that the Burmese government and 
people could "handle the situation."  China, as a neighbor 
that shares a 4,000 km border, and ASEAN, are better placed 
to influence events in Burma.  He also said that additional 
outside sanctions would make the country more inaccessible. 
Wang reaffirmed China's support for Gambari and the good 
offices mission, but opposed any Council statement or action. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Russian PR Churkin also restated Russia's belief 
that Burma was not an appropriate issue for the Security 
Council as the situation does not threaten international 
peace and security.  He concurred with Ambassador Khalilzad, 
however, that there should be no escalation in the violence 
and that there must be an open dialogue with all parties 
Russia supports Gambari's efforts, he commented, but did not 
believe that a trip "during such disarray" would yield 
results.  He concluded by calling on ASEAN to signal to Burma 
that it should apply the maximum restraint and restore order. 
 He requested that Gambari convey the same message to both 
the opposition and the government leaders.  In a short 
statement, South African PR Kumalo expressed support for 
Gambari's visit and for a call by ASEAN to exercise 
restraint.  He said he thought Ban's statement adequately 
represented the views of the UN, and directly asked Gambari 
whether a statement by the Council would be helpful. 
 
Council Reactions 
----------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) In a balanced statement, Indonesia echoed the 
Council's sentiments of support for Gambari.  PR Natalagawa 
added that as a member of ASEAN, Indonesia urged Burma to 
exercise restraint and ensure a peaceful resolution to the 
situation.  "Real progress must be made," he said. 
Panamanian PR Arias offered full support to Gambari and the 
good offices mission, adding that the Council cannot allow 
the crisis to turn to the mass killings of the past.  He 
requested a formal Council meeting featuring presentations by 
Burma and all neighboring states, including China.  Though 
expressing reservations unrelated to the issue at hand about 
whether the Council should issue a statement, Arias 
ultimately supported the effort. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Qatari representative al-Qatani noted the 
difficulty of confirming events in Burma because of the 
limited information available.  He agreed that Gambari should 
go to Burma as soon as possible, recommending that he work 
with "transparency and even-handedness."  Though supportive 
of the mission, Qatani alleged that a press statement by the 
Council could be counterproductive, inspiring further unrest 
and security problems.  He asked for clarification about 
reports that monks were abducing police and setting fire to 
police vehicles (sic), and asked if the Council should act 
every time there is a demonstration overseas. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The Ghanaian representative expressed support for 
action to prevent the escalation of the conflict and possible 
fatalities.  He said that the Council should "look to Gambari 
and the countries in the region" given the differences in 
approach evident in the Security Council's discussions. 
Peruvian DPR Chaves argued there was more risk in Security 
Council silence on Burma than a public statement of support. 
He added that there were enough common elements among council 
members to release a general statement of support. 
 
European Countries Speak out Strongly 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) All European delegations spoke strongly in favor 
of a Council reaction.  UK PermRep Sawers argued "now is the 
time to pull the regime back from the brink and call for 
reconciliation."  He supported the Secretary-General's 
dispatch of Gambari, and recalled Ban's statement to the UNGA 
September 25 that "the age of impunity is dead."  French 
PermRep Ripert read a statement that echoed French President 
Sarkozy on the need for a strong international response, 
including sanctions.  Belgium PermRep Verbeke urged ASEAN 
partners to facilitate the Gambari mission by sending a 
strong message to the Burmese regime.  Italian PermRep 
Spatafora concurred with Ambassador Khalilzad's 
recommendation that the Security Council has a responsibility 
to prevent the escalation of the crisis in Burma and needed 
to act.  The Slovakian representative said the world is 
looking at the Security Council and waiting for a reaction in 
support of the people of Burma. 
 
¶11.  (SBU)  In summing up remarks, Gambari responded to the 
South African PermRep's query about the utility of a Council 
statement.  The Special Envoy said a statement that urges the 
Burmese authorities to exercise restraint and support my 
mission would be helpful.  Gambari cited the statement issued 
by Singapore, the current chair of ASEAN, urging "the Myanmar 
authorities to admit Mr. Gambari into Myanmar and grant him 
full access to all players."  With this reference to ASEAN 
support, Council members reluctant for Ripert to speak to the 
press about Gambari's urgent mission relented.  Gambari also 
noted that he had no information about unlawful action by 
monks and commented that "of course we hold the authorities 
to a greater degree of accountability." 
KHALILZAD