VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #2110 1912306
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 102251Z JUL 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000

UNCLAS STATE 072110 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL UNSC BU
SUBJECT: BURMA: TALKING POINTS FOR SYG BAN'S BRIEF TO THE 
UN SECURITY COUNCIL, JULY 13, 2009 
 
REF: CHIANG MAI 94 
 
¶1.  This is an action memo.  USUN may draw on the points in 
para 2 when making an intervention at UN Secretary-General 
Ban's July 13 briefing to the UN Security Council on his July 
3 -4 trip to Burma. 
 
¶2.  Begin talking points: 
 
-- The United States joins other Council members in 
reiterating our support for Secretary-General Ban and his 
Good Office mission.  We appreciate his briefing.  We note 
that he was able to convey directly to the government 
leadership the concerns of the United Nations and the 
international community about the government,s continuing 
unwillingness to engage in a serious fashion with the UN, and 
to launch a genuine political dialogue with all actors in 
Burma. 
 
-- While we welcome the Secretary-General meeting with Senior 
General Than Shwe and several members of the National League 
for Democracy's Central Executive Committee, we nonetheless 
re-iterate our serious disappointment that the Burmese 
authorities refused his repeated requests to meet with Aung 
San Suu Kyi.  By refusing this simple, 
straightforward and appropriate request, Burmese authorities 
have missed yet another opportunity on behalf of their own 
people to engage credibly with the U.N. on the concerns that 
this body has repeatedly articulated. 
 
-- First, the Burmese government has again missed an 
opportunity to, in the Secretary-General's words, "show its 
commitment to a new era of political openness."  The path the 
authorities are pursuing will lead to neither democracy nor 
stability. 
 
-- We are troubled that the Burmese authorities continue to 
resist addressing the grave political, economic, and human 
rights challenges that face the country.  These problems will 
not be resolved 
through a plan imposed from the top; sustainable progress 
depends on the will of all Burmese citizens being heard and 
respected. 
-- Democratic change and the institution of civilian rule can 
be accomplished only through a genuine dialogue on national 
reconciliation and a shared vision for the future with the 
democratic opposition and ethnic minority groups. 
 
-- National reconciliation cannot be achieved while key 
leaders of Burma's democratic opposition languish in prison. 
We call on the Burmese government to cease its unjustified 
trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and free her immediately and 
unconditionally.  National reconciliation also cannot be 
achieved while the Burma Army persists in violent attacks 
against Burma's own citizens.    Recent attacks by the Burma 
Army and its proxies have forced more than 3,000 ethnic Karen 
to flee across the border into Thailand. 
 
-- This is not only evidence of the government's 
intransigence on the core issue of ending violence against 
ethnic minorities, but also a demonstration of the threat 
Burma poses to international peace and security, strongly 
validating the importance of keeping Burma on the Security 
Council's agenda. 
 
-- The Burmese authorities insist that the vote planned for 
2010 will be free and fair.  But their promises have not been 
followed by action, and have little credibility in the eyes 
of the world.  The burden is on the government to take 
concrete, tangible steps in support of a legitimate, 
inclusive and democratic election process.  The immediate and 
unconditional release of political prisoners, including Aung 
San Suu Kyi, are a key component of this process. 
 
-- Second, the Burmese Government has missed an opportunity 
to demonstrate that it is willing to engage in a serious 
fashion with the United Nations and the wider international 
community.  Burma's rebuff of the Secretary-General on 
important issues during his visit further constrains the 
ability of the international community to work with Burma. 
 
-- As the Secretary-General pointed out, the Burmese 
Government maintains that cooperation with the United Nations 
is a cornerstone of the country's foreign policy; now is the 
time for Burma to match its words with deeds.  We call on 
Burma's generals to seize the opportunity in front of them 
and to engage credibly with the United Nations and the world 
at large, and to stop isolating itself from the good will of 
other nations. 
 
-- The Secretary-General has called for immediate action on 
the part of the Burmese government in order to avoid "wasted 
lives, lost opportunities, and prolonged isolation."  We 
could not agree more.  When Burma demonstrates its 
willingness to implement its international obligations, 
engage constructively with the international community on its 
core concerns, and commit to genuine progress towards reform, 
the United States remains ready to respond. 
 
-- The Secretary-General further noted that Burma cannot face 
its many challenges alone.  We around this table are willing 
to help Burma and its people build a stable future for all 
its people.   It is now up to Burma's generals and government 
to show that they are ready to reach out a hand to the 
international community and to do the same. 
 
End talking points. 
CLINTON