VZCZCXRO7119
OO RUEHBZ RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUCNDT #1198/01 3542043
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 202043Z DEC 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3395
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001198 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BM
SUBJECT: GAMBARI BRIEFS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  UN Special Adviser on Burma Ibrahim 
Gambari briefed the UN General Assembly by invitation on 
December 18.  In keeping with his measured public approach, 
Gambari opened by recalling recent, positive developments 
such as the release of many of those detained during the 
September crackdown and the willingness of the Burmese 
leadership to engage with the UN.  He reported, however, that 
arrests continue, many Burmese are still imprisoned including 
ASSK, the regime has not set a date for dialogue, and the 
generals risked undermining the credibility of the National 
Convention because of its exclusion of primary stakeholders. 
Gambari observed that the international community showed 
unprecedented interest in Burma and cited his regional travel 
and consultation with P-5, ASEAN, and EU capitals, adding 
that ASEAN countries viewed sanctions as counterproductive. 
The Burmese PR Swe said that Burma will "resolutely 
implement" its seven step roadmap and that further pressure 
would be counterproductive.  He maintained that cooperation 
with the United Nations remains a cornerstone of Burmese 
foreign policy.  End Summary. 
 
Some Positive Signs 
 
¶2. (SBU) During his briefing to the General Assembly on 
Burma, Gambari highlighted the "clear indication of support" 
from Burmese authorities for the good offices mission.  He 
also welcomed their commitment to cooperate with the United 
Nations.  Gambari outlined several positive results of his 
two visits to Burma, including the regime's move to lift 
curfews; its release of 7,200 persons, including 700 monks; 
General Than Shwe's commitment to meet with Aung Sun Suu Kyi 
(ASSK) under "certain" conditions; and the appointment of a 
54 member Constitutional Drafting Committee.  He also listed 
what he described as "promising developments" in Burma:  the 
regime's permission to release ASSK's statement, ASSK's 
meeting with the NLD and her meetings with her liaison 
officer, and the regime's decision to permit Special 
Rapporteur on Human Rights Pinheiro to visit Burma.  He 
further referred to the regime's consent to establish a 
Poverty Alleviation Commission as a positive move. 
 
No Beef 
 
¶3. (SBU) Gambari reported, however, that the regime had yet 
to address "basic concerns."  Arrests continue, he said, and 
there are still a number of political prisoners.  The Burmese 
have not set a date for dialogue, he continued, nor have they 
released ASSK or at the very least relaxed the conditions of 
her arrest to enable her to fully participate in dialogue. 
Gambari observed that the exclusion of key stakeholders and 
ethnic parties in the National Convention risked undermining 
the Government of Burma's credibility and the credibility of 
their roadmap.  The regime needs to propose a timeline for 
next steps, he said.  Gambari recalled his hope to act on an 
earlier Burmese invitation to visit "again and again and 
again," but argued his visits must produce results. 
 
International Support 
 
¶4. (SBU) Never has the international community been so united 
on the issue of Burma, Gambari said, noting that there was 
unprecedented interest by the international community.  He 
recounted his recent visit to ASEAN countries in the region 
as well as his travel to several capitals, including Tokyo, 
Beijing, New Delhi, Moscow, and Washington.  Countries in the 
region saw the good offices effort as the "central track," he 
said, but also considered sanctions counterproductive. 
 
Burmese reaction 
 
¶5. (SBU) Burmese PR Swe welcomed Gambari's accomplishments as 
an UN envoy despite "undue pressure put on him by influential 
members of our Organization."  He also listed Burma's 
"notable developments," including the restoration of peace 
and stability, lifting of the curfew, and moving forward to 
step three (meeting of the Constitutional Drafting Committee) 
on the regime's roadmap.  In listing further accomplishments, 
PR Swe emphasized the "tangible results" of Gambari's good 
offices mission and quoted Gambari's phrase that the good 
offices is "not an event, but a process."  He added that 
further political pressure would be counterproductive and 
stated that the Burmese will "resolutely implement" their 
seven step roadmap.  He repeated that "cooperation with the 
United Nations is the cornerstone of (Burmese) Foreign 
Policy," and confirmed that Burma will continue to cooperate 
with the good offices role of the Secretary-General. 
 
Other delegations 
 
¶6. (SBU) On behalf of ASEAN, Singapore PR Menon recalled 
Burma's objection to Gambari's briefing at both the EAS and 
 
USUN NEW Y 00001198  002 OF 002 
 
 
ASEAN Summits.  He reiterated ASEAN's 19 November statement 
noting that Burma requested ASEAN to "step aside" and that 
Burma said they would deal directly with the UN and 
international community.  He added that ASEAN responded with 
a call for Burma to "move forward" as the status quo was 
unacceptable.  The Portuguese PR spoke for the EU and said 
that the appointment of an EU envoy indicated the importance 
of the issue for the EU.  Incoming Security Council member 
Vietnam stated that as a neighbor, it was "natural" for 
Vietnam to be concerned with peace and stability in Burma 
since "peace and stability in (Burma) affected peace and 
stability in the region."  The Egyptian PR opposed the human 
rights resolution on Burma.  Indonesia, Australia, New 
Zealand, and Nigeria delivered remarks supportive of 
Gambari's efforts and welcoming his briefing in the General 
Assembly. 
Khalilzad