VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #4899 0491832
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 181817Z FEB 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 4898

UNCLAS STATE 014899 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BM
SUBJECT: APPROVED BUILDING BLOCKS FOR CONSULTATIONS ON 
BURMA 
 
¶1.  (U) USUN should draw from the building blocks in para 2 
during consultations on Burma in the Security Council on 
Feburary 20 and with the Group of Friends on February 23. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Following are Department and NSC-approved building 
blocks. 
 
BEGIN BUILDING BLOCKS 
-- A year and half has passed since the Security Council 
deplored the Burmese regime's violent repression of peaceful, 
pro-democracy protests.  The October 2007 Presidential 
Statement condemned the regime's actions and called on the 
regime to: 
 
- immediately release all political prisoners and remaining 
detainees unconditionally; and 
- start a genuine, transparent, and time-bound political 
dialogue with the democratic opposition and ethnic 
minorities, with the support of the United Nations. 
 
-- We are disappointed that the issue we're discussing today 
remain the same as in 2007, because the regime has 
consistently failed to fulfill the conditions of the mandate 
of the Special Envoy and heed the calls specified in the 
October 2007 UN Security Council Presidential Statement. 
 
-- We note with concern that the regime has not engaged 
credibly with the United Nations and has rebuffed the 
Secretary-General's "good offices" mission.  Unfortunately, 
this has meant that UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari's Good 
Offices Mission has not been able to secure concrete or 
tangible results from the regime. 
 
-- The international community and the UN Security Council 
must respond to the regime's continued flouting of the calls 
for action raised by this the Security Council, the UN 
Secretariat, and so many throughout the world. 
 
-- The full participation of democratic and ethnic minority 
leaders in substantive dialogue on democratic reforms is 
fundamental for Burma to achieve national reconciliation, 
peace, and stabiilty.  Burma will be able to achieve these 
goals only when its government is able to speak on behalf, 
and with the the support of, its entire people, rather than a 
chosen few. 
 
-- Burma's intransigience is a threat to stability and a 
blight on the region.  The regime's disregard for the basic 
rights and universal freedoms of its people has turned Burma 
from a prosperous nation to the main source of regional 
instability, as drugs, disease, and refugees spread and pose 
challenges to Burma's neighbors and other regional 
governments.  Oppression, instability, and violence in Burma 
have broader implications, and in light of Burma's threat to 
regional security, regional governments, as well as the 
international community, must work together to push for 
reforms in Burma that reflect the will of the Burmese people. 
 
-- The problems facing the Burmese people are wide-ranging, 
and after 27 years of military rule, deep-rooted.  The UN 
Security Council and the international community must be 
fully engaged in assisting the people of Burma to achieve 
peace, stability, universal human rights, and a future of 
hope, rather than fear. 
 
-- The United States remains committed to supporting the 
people of Burma.  We continue to call on the world community, 
particularly Burma's neighbors, China, India, and Association 
of Southeast Asian Nations to work with us in pressing the 
regime for full cooperation in heeding calls of this body to 
address the challenges that have been raised today. 
END BUILDING BLOCKS 
CLINTON