VZCZCXRO9972
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #0150/01 0461852
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151852Z FEB 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3755
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1874
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2075
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 8428
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3106

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000150 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BM
SUBJECT: SYG BAN CONVENES SECOND GROUP OF FRIENDS MEETING 
ON BURMA 
 
REF: USUN NY 1203 
 
¶1. (SBU) UN Secretary-General Ban convened a second meeting 
of the Group of Friends on Burma February 13 attended by 
Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe, UN Special 
Advisor on Burma Ibrahim Gambari, and all 14 members of the 
Group of Friends.  Ban said that he had received "positive 
signals" from the regime that Gambari would be able to return 
to Burma within the next several weeks.  Gambari announced he 
would meet Burmese officials in a third country, but that 
such an encounter would not replace a trip to Burma. 
(Gambari departs February 15 for China, Indonesia, Singapore, 
and Japan.)  Both Ban and Gambari shared the view that the 
timeline and referendum announced by the regime could be a 
positive step.  Regarding his prospective next visit, Gambari 
pledged to work with the regime to enhance the credibility of 
the roadmap process and press the regime to create the 
necessary conditions for inclusive dialogue between Aung Sun 
Suu Kyi (ASSK) and the Burmese government.  He also reminded 
the group of the importance of addressing the socioeconomic 
issues ("root causes") in Burma. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The majority of the group, which includes Council 
members, regional states, and donor states, viewed the 
regime's roadmap as an opportunity to engage the government 
of Burma.  Even the UK and France identified the recent 
Burmese announcement as presenting a possible opportunity. 
China characterized the recently announced referendum and 
timeline as the only practical means for moving forward. 
Many members expressed concern about the lack of transparency 
in the process and the need for a more clarity, agreeing that 
Gambari should return as soon as possible to assess the 
situation.  The P-3 reminded the group that the regime had 
not responded to the requirements outlined in the October 11 
Security Council Presidential Statement.  They also cautioned 
that the regime needed to show substantive progress or 
further measures would be considered.  Ambassador Wolff 
advised the group against legitimizing the roadmap process 
and described recent Burmese actions as likely window 
dressing designed to legitimize an undemocratic constitution 
and perpetuate regime rule. End Summary. 
 
UN Lead 
 
¶3. (SBU) During the Group of Friends Meeting on February 13, 
Ban stated that the Burmese announcement of the timeline for 
the roadmap, including a referendum and elections in 2010, 
could be a positive step forward.  He said that Gambari must 
return to Burma as soon as possible to assess the situation 
and added that he had received "positive signals" from the 
regime that Gambari would be able to return within the next 
few weeks.  Ban reiterated his call to the Burmese government 
to respond to outstanding requests by the international 
community.  (Note:  The Group does not include Burma.)  He 
commented that in order for the dialogue between ASSK and the 
government to be meaningful, ASSK's liaison should be the 
Prime Minister if not Senior General Than Shwe.  He requested 
that the Group of Friends have patience and make a concerted 
effort to focus on the way forward.  In response to a 
question whether he was prepared to visit Burma, Ban said 
that he was considering a trip but needed an "appropriate 
atmosphere" and that timing was an important consideration. 
Ban also agreed that more frequent meetings of the Group of 
Friends would be helpful. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Special Advisor Gambari remarked that he would meet 
Burmese officials outside of Burma.  The meeting would not 
replace his trip to the country, but would give him the 
opportunity to engage with the regime.  (Note:  Gambari did 
not provide any additional details on such a meeting.) 
During his next visit, Gambari said he intends to focus on 
ways to improve the credibility of the roadmap process by 
pushing the regime to open the draft constitution for 
discussion by Burmese political and ethnic groups and include 
a clause permitting amendments.  He said he would encourage 
the regime to hold public hearings and publicize the efforts 
of the Constitutional Drafting Committee.  He also said that 
he would press the regime to create the necessary conditions 
for a genuine dialogue between the government and Aung Sun 
Suu Kyi by relaxing the conditions of her arrest, urging the 
regime to allow NLD offices to open all over the country, and 
raising the level of ASSK's liaison.  Gambari cautioned that 
even if the dialogue were successful, socioeconomic and 
humanitarian factors needed to be addressed. 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000150  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
P-5 
 
¶5. (SBU) Ambassador Wolff said that the referendum currently 
represented an undemocratic constitution with a strictly 
controlled election.  He cautioned that the UN and the 
Security Council should not legitimize the roadmap process. 
Wolff emphasized the pressing need for Gambari to return to 
Burma as soon as possible to assess the situation.  UK PR 
Sawers and French DPR LaCroix agreed that moving forward with 
a flawed constitution would further destabilize Burma.  They 
also stressed the need for transparency and broad 
participation of all parties in the roadmap process.  Both 
also remarked that the roadmap represented a possible way 
forward and commented that with UN and Gambari's assistance, 
"it might work."  Each commented on the availability of 
economic assistance to the country if the regime makes 
substantive progress on dialogue and national reconciliation. 
 France reminded the group that without progress, it will be 
necessary to consider further measures in the Security 
Council. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Chinese Political Coordinator Li Junhua and Russian 
DPR Dolgov agreed that the roadmap process should be more 
transparent and inclusive.  Both also expressed the need for 
Gambari to return to Burma as soon as possible (and both 
commented that their governments had passed the same message 
to the Burmese bilaterally).  Both also viewed the regime's 
announcement of a referendum and timeline as a positive 
development.  Political coordinator Li Junhua said that the 
regime's roadmap could serve as a practical means for 
engagement and added that the Burmese government and its 
people should have a sense of ownership of the process.  DPR 
Dolgov called on the international community to encourage the 
roadmap process as a positive step toward a transition to a 
civilian government. 
 
ASEAN 
 
¶7. (SBU) Singapore DPR Choek emphasized that he was speaking 
in his national capacity because Burma had made clear at the 
November ASEAN summit that it preferred to deal with the UN 
(and therefore there was no need for ASEAN to take a role.) 
Choek also emphasized the importance of inclusiveness in the 
roadmap process.  Indonesian PR Natalegawa echoed the 
importance of inclusiveness and commented that the Burmese 
announcement of a referendum was a positive development but 
more clarity is needed and Gambari should return to Burma as 
soon as possible.  He said that Gambari planned to visit 
Jakarta on February 21 to consult with senior Indonesian 
officials on the issue.  Thai PR Pramudwinai advocated for 
Gambari's early return in order for Gambari to "figure out 
whether the timeline and referendum is legitimate."  He also 
proposed pressuring Burmese leaders publicly to respond to 
questions about Gambari's return to the country. 
Additionally, he asked SYG Ban to consider a visit during the 
2010 elections.  Vietnamese PR Minh said that Vietnam wanted 
stability in Burma and they were not satisfied with the 
status quo.  The issue is complex, however, he said, and the 
comprehensive approach is the best way forward. 
 
Other Members 
 
¶8. (SBU) Indian DPR Malhotra said that during Foreign 
Secretary Menon's February 8-10 visit to Burma, India 
 
SIPDIS 
recounted the importance of the UN role to the Burmese. 
Malhotra called on the international community to take note 
of the positive steps the regime is making and to work with 
Burma to build on every opportunity "no matter how small." 
Japanese PR Takasu also welcomed the announcement of a 
referendum as a positive development and noted the importance 
of Gambari's role in guiding the Burmese and insuring that 
the process is inclusive. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The Australian PR Hill, Norwegian DPR and Slovenian 
PR on behalf of the EU voiced skepticism about the regime's 
plans to move forward with the roadmap.  Norway welcomed the 
Secretary-General's statement on the referendum, however, and 
 
SIPDIS 
said Oslo would support the roadmap process as long as the UN 
was involved.  The Slovenian PR agreed that the UN role was 
central to the process and remarked that EU Envoy to Burma, 
Fassino, was in constant contact with Gambari and the good 
offices mission.  The representative also remarked that the 
EU has 18 million euros set aside for humanitarian assistance 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000150  003 OF 003 
 
 
to address basic human needs in Burma. 
WOLFF