VZCZCXRO3356
RR RUEHBZ RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUCNDT #0986/01 3131811
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091811Z NOV 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3031
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0139

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000986 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA, ZIMBABWE DISCUSSED AT SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN 
DEBATE ON REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 
REF: STATE 152831 
 
¶1. (U) The Security Council unanimously adopted a 
Presidential Statement (PRST) on the role of regional and 
sub-regional organizations in the maintenance of 
international peace and security on November 6, 2007.  The 
adoption was preceded by an open debate, in which the 
Secretary-General, all Council members, five regional 
 
SIPDIS 
organizations, and twenty-four other member states 
participated.  Ambassador Khalilzad delivered the U.S. 
statement, affirming the importance of identifying and 
developing "modalities by which to enhance cooperation 
between these organizations and the UN."  Full text of the 
PRST is in paragraph 6.  The U.S. statement can be found on 
USUN's website, at www.usnnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases 
/20071106_209.html. All other statements are available 
on the UN website, in document S/PV.5776. 
 
 
¶2. (U) Indonesia, in its capacity as Council President for 
November, selected the topic for this month's thematic 
debate.  Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda 
chaired the meeting and focused his remarks on the role 
played by ASEAN in Southeast Asia.  FM Wirajuda noted that 
all signatories and acceding states of ASEAN,s Treaty of 
Amity and Cooperation had "renounced the use of force and 
bound themselves to peacefully settling their disputes in the 
region."  He also claimed that the attainment of an "ASEAN 
Security Community" would enhance ASEAN,s capacity "for 
conflict prevention and resolution and post-conflict peace 
building."  The idea of a Security Community was first 
introduced at the 2003 ASEAN Summit and will be enshrined in 
ASEAN's Charter, scheduled for adoption at the next ASEAN 
summit later this month.  According to Wirajuda, the 
establishment of this Security Community will enable ASEAN to 
deepen its commitment to human rights and democracy. 
 
¶3. (U) The situation in Burma and ASEAN,s role in addressing 
it were mentioned in numerous statements.  Apart from the 
U.S., the UK, France, and the Philippines referred to the 
situation in Burma and ASEAN's role in addressing it.  The UK 
and France commended ASEAN for its commitment to regional 
cooperation and its support of Special Envoy Gambari. 
Philippine Foreign Minister Alberto Romulo diverted from his 
prepared speech to call for the "immediate release of Aung 
San Suu Kyi without conditions" and the inclusion of all 
political parties, including the National League for 
Democracy, in the democratization process. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In contrast with the Philippines, strong language 
on Burma, the ASEAN statement, read by Singapore, was silent 
on Burma.  (Note: Singapore circulated the ASEAN statement 
prior to the open debate but Burma refused to join consensus. 
 Per the Singaporean Deputy Chief of Mission, Indonesia -- 
prompted by Singapore -- convinced Burma just before the 
afternoon session of the day-long meeting to join consensus 
and allow Singapore to present a united ASEAN statement.  End 
Note) The other ASEAN members participating in the debate - 
Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia - kept their comments more 
general and did not mention Burma.  Thailand stressed the 
importance of developing a sense of community in the region 
and adhering to the "ASEAN Way," while Malaysia noted that 
the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation enshrines the principle 
of non-interference in internal affairs.   On the other hand, 
Vietnam suggested that "possible modalities of partnership 
between the UN and regional organizations must be further 
explored and expanded on the basis of equality and mutual 
reinforcement." 
 
¶5.  (U) The UK also used the Council's discussion on the role 
of regional organizations to comment on Zimbabwe.  Noting the 
role of South Africa and the Southern African Development 
Community (SADC) in working toward resolving the crisis in 
Zimbabwe, the UK PermRep strongly condemned the government of 
Zimbabwe.  He said that the UK would "support any process to 
improve the plight of the people in Zimbabwe, where human 
rights abuses, appalling standards of government, brutal 
intimidation and economic collapse have turned (Zimbabwe) 
into one of the most desperate places on earth." 
 
¶6.  (U) Begin text of Presidential Statement S/PRST/2007/42: 
 
At the 5776th Meeting of the Security Council, held on 6 
November 2007, in connection with the Council's consideration 
of the item entitled "The role of regional and sub-regional 
organizations in the maintenance of international peace and 
security", the President of the Security Council made the 
following statement on behalf of the Council: 
 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000986  002 OF 003 
 
 
The Security Council reaffirms its primary responsibility for 
the maintenance of international peace and security in 
accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. 
 
The Security Council recognizes the important role of 
regional and sub-regional organizations in the prevention, 
management and resolution of conflicts in accordance with 
Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations as well as 
its relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 1625 
(2005) and 1631 (2005), and previous relevant presidential 
statements on cooperation with regional and sub-regional 
organizations. 
 
The Security Council emphasizes that the growing contribution 
made by regional and sub-regional organizations in 
cooperation with the United Nations can usefully support the 
work of the Organization in maintaining international peace 
and security, and stresses in this regard that such 
contribution should be made in accordance with Chapter VIII 
of the Charter of the United Nations.  The Security Council 
further recognizes that regional and sub-regional 
organizations are well positioned to understand the root 
causes of many conflicts and other security challenges close 
to home and to influence their prevention or resolution, 
owing to their knowledge of the region. 
 
The Security Council recalls its determination to take 
appropriate steps to further the development of cooperation 
between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional 
organizations in maintaining international peace and 
security. It welcomes recent developments with regard to the 
cooperation between the United Nations, the African Union and 
the European Union. 
 
The Security Council, while maintaining the primary 
responsibility for maintaining international peace and 
security, encourages regional and sub-regional organizations 
to strengthen and increase cooperation among them, including 
to enhance their respective capacity, in the maintenance of 
international peace and security. The Security Council 
underlines the importance of the United Nations political 
support and technical expertise in this regard. 
 
The Security Council encourages regional cooperation, 
including through the involvement of regional and 
sub-regional organizations in the peaceful settlement of 
disputes, and intends to consult closely with them whenever 
appropriate on their role in future peacekeeping operations 
as well as political and integrated missions authorized by 
the Security Council. 
 
The Security Council stresses the need to develop effective 
partnership between the Council and regional and sub-regional 
organizations in order to enable early response to disputes 
and emerging crises. 
 
The Security Council underlines the importance of exploring 
the potential and existing capacities of regional and 
sub-regional organizations in the field of peace and 
security, covering, inter alia, the spectrum of conflict 
prevention, confidence-building, conflict resolution, 
peacemaking, peacekeeping, and post-conflict peace-building, 
and welcomes regional dialogue and the promotion of shared 
norms as well as common regional approaches to the settlement 
of disputes and other issues relating to peace and security. 
 
The Security Council stresses the potential role of regional 
and sub-regional organizations in addressing the illicit 
trade in small arms and light weapons and the need to take 
into account in the peacekeeping operations' mandates, where 
appropriate, the regional instruments enabling states to 
identify and trace illegal small arms and light weapons. 
 
The Security Council welcomes the efforts undertaken by its 
subsidiary bodies with responsibilities in counter-terrorism 
to foster cooperation with regional and sub-regional 
organizations, notes with appreciation the efforts made by an 
increasing number of regional and sub-regional organizations 
in countering terrorism and urges all relevant regional and 
sub-regional organizations to enhance the effectiveness of 
their counter-terrorism efforts within their respective 
mandates and in accordance with international law, including 
with a view to develop their capacity to help Member States 
in their efforts to tackle the threats to international peace 
and security posed by acts of terrorism. 
 
The Security Council recognizes the importance of promoting 
the identification and further development of modalities 
which enhance the contribution of regional and sub-regional 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000986  003 OF 003 
 
 
organizations to the work of the Council in maintaining 
international peace and security in accordance with Chapter 
VIII of the United Nations Charter. For that purpose, the 
Security Council deems it useful to consider further 
strengthening its interaction and cooperation with regional 
and sub-regional organizations in accordance with Chapter 
VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. The Security 
Council recognizes the Peacebuilding Commission, in its area 
of competence, as a forum for coordination in the area of 
post-conflict between the United Nations system and regional 
and sub-regional organizations, in accordance with its 
resolution 1645 (2005) and General Assembly resolution 60/180. 
 
The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to 
include in his report pursuant to its Presidential Statement 
of 28 March 2007 (S/PRST/2007/7) a recommendation on 
practical ways and means to increase and strengthen 
cooperation between the United Nations and regional and 
sub-regional organizations in the maintenance of 
international peace and security. 
 
The Security Council invites all Member States to contribute 
more actively to the strengthening of the capacity of 
regional and sub-regional organizations in all parts of the 
world, in issues relating to the maintenance of international 
peace and security. 
 
End Text. 
Khalilzad