VZCZCXRO4475
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #0397/01 1232323
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 022323Z MAY 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4208
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3209

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000397 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BM
SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS BURMA PRST 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  The Security Council adopted a 
Presidential Statement (PRST) May 2, in advance of Burma's 
upcoming constitutional referendum, calling on the regime to 
permit the participation of all political actors and 
demonstrate respect for fundamental political freedoms.  This 
action followed a month of intensive USUN bilateral 
engagement with Chinese PermRep Wang and Special Advisor 
Gambari in order to win Chinese backing.  Shortly after the 
adoption of the PRST, Burmese PermRep Swe circulated a letter 
to the Security Council "greatly regretting the course of 
action taken" and complaining that "powerful members" of the 
Security Council had pressured the others.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a May 2 meeting of the Security Council, 
following earlier prepatory work by Ambassador Khalilzad with 
Chinese PR Wang, Ambassador Wolff called for immediate 
adoption of the revised text of a PRST on the political 
process in Burma.  He emphasized that the referendum was only 
days away and the Council must adopt the text immediately to 
have any impact.  He explained that the text was the result 
of extensive consultations and comprised key elements drawn 
from the Council's previous statements, as well as the 
Burmese statement to the Council promising a "free and fair" 
referendum. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Chinese PR Wang said that the Chinese, despite 
principled opposition to the Council dealing with Myanmar, 
were willing to consider the adoption of a brief, 
constructive PRST for the sake of Council unity, but argued 
the current draft was too explicit.  Wang also reiterated 
China's longstanding position that the matter is not a threat 
to international peace and security, the good offices mission 
was established according to a General Assembly mandate, and 
there have been positive developments in Burma since the 
Council's October statement.  Indonesian PR Natalegawa 
stressed the importance of a "collective" Council view and 
echoed the Chinese call for a constructive text that would 
have a positive impact on Burma.  France and Belgium offered 
supportive statements for the text of the PRST.  The Italian 
PermRep, in a misfired attempt to be helpful, supported the 
Chinese request for modifications. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The President of the Security Council, UK PR Sawers, 
suspended consultations in order to facilitate further 
negotiation of the PRST text among PermReps.  In the closed 
negotiations that followed, Ambassador Wolff resisted 
attempts by the Chinese, Indonesian, and Vietnamese to remove 
references to "full participation of all political actors" 
and "fundamental political freedoms" from the text.  He 
convinced the group that it was not enough to allow the 
Burmese to determine what was "free and fair," particularly 
in light of continued arrests, detention and intimidation in 
the lead up to the referendum.  He reminded the Council that 
silence would be seen as retreating from statements the 
Council had already made. 
 
¶5. (SBU) After additional negotiations, the Council agreed on 
a compromise text (see para 6), which "underlines the need 
for the Government of Myanmar to establish the conditions and 
create an atmosphere conducive to an inclusive and credible 
process, including the full participation of all political 
actors and respect for fundamental political freedoms." 
Ambassador Wolff also secured reaffirmation in the text to 
the Council's 15 November press statement, which addresses 
Aung Sun Suu Kyi's situation and role. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Begin Myanmar PRST text: 
 
The Security Council reaffirms its statements of 11 October 
and 15 November 2007 and all the expectations expressed in 
those statements. 
 
The Security Council takes note of the announcement by the 
Government of Myanmar of a referendum on a draft constitution 
in May 2008 and elections in 2010.  It further notes the 
commitment by the Government of Myanmar to ensure that the 
referendum process will be free and fair.  The Security 
Council underlines the need for the Government of Myanmar to 
establish the conditions and create an atmosphere conducive 
to an inclusive and credible process, including the full 
participation of all political actors and respect for 
fundamental political freedoms. 
 
The Security Council reaffirms its unwavering support for the 
Secretary-General's good offices mission and expresses its 
 
SIPDIS 
appreciation for the work of his Special Adviser, Ibrahim 
Gambari.  The Security Council encourages the Government of 
Myanmar and all parties concerned to cooperate fully with the 
United Nations. 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000397  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
The Security Council welcomes the important role that the 
ASEAN countries continue to play in supporting the United 
Nation's good offices mission. 
 
The Security Council affirms its commitment to the 
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and, in that 
context, reiterates that the future of Myanmar lies in the 
hands of all of its people. 
 
The Security Council remains seized of the matter. 
 
End Myanmar PRST text. 
Khalilzad