U.S. Drafting Security Council Resolution on Burma
27 November 2006
U.S. envoy Bolton cites lack of progress on key regional stability issues
United Nations -- The United States will be presenting a draft resolution on Burma to the United Nations Security Council, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton announced November 27 after hearing a report by a senior U.N. official on his recent visit to that Southeast Asian country.
"Based on the lack of performance by the government of Burma on any of the key issues," the United States will begin drafting a resolution that would set out key actions Burma's rulers must take to reduce the threat to peace and security in the region, Bolton told journalists after a private Security Council meeting with U.N. Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari.
"The policies the government has been pursuing continue to contribute to instability in the region and, therefore, in our view constitute a threat to international peace and security. These include the continuing flow of internally displaced persons and refugees across Burma's international borders -- over a million Burmese citizens are now in other countries," Bolton said.
"Given the pervasive lack of economic development in Burma and the neighboring countries, this is a problem that imposes considerable burdens on the bordering countries," he said.
The ambassador also pointed out that the government has done nothing to curb trafficking in narcotics and illicit drugs and trafficking in persons. Its internal policies also have enhanced the likelihood of the transmission of dangerous and highly contagious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria across international borders, he said.
"It is not simply the internal manifestation of these policies but ... their consequences external to Burma that make it appropriate for the council to act," Bolton said.
"For all of these reasons we think it is clear the government needs more than just visits by Under Secretary-General Gambari," he said. "It needs to be told that concrete performance is necessary."
Bolton said that the resolution would not impose sanctions, but set out "what we expect Burma's performance to be," emphasizing substance and policy changes rather than rhetoric and meetings.
The U.S. ambassador said that he would be consulting with representatives from the other 14 members of the Security Council and hopes to have a draft text within a week.
Gambari visited Burma for the second time in 2006 from November 9 to November 12, meeting with top government officials, the leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Gambari reported that "small steps have been taken" by the government since his visit in May, but "we are now waiting for the government to [take] further steps to respond to the concerns of the international community."
"The ball is clearly in the court of the government," he said.
The under secretary-general told journalists that he discussed five major issues with government officials: political prisoners, humanitarian access, a more inclusive political process, the need to work with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the need for a cessation of hostilities against ethnic minorities, particularly in Kayin state.
The government must release all political prisoners, particularly Aung San Suu Kyi, Gambari said. The national convention, which is writing a constitution, must be democratic and inclusive, especially including the NLD.
The opposition leader's health "is fair considering the circumstance of her prolonged detention. She has to have more regular visits by her doctors," he said. A doctor was allowed to see Aung San Suu Kyi on November 16, but the previous doctor visit was on August 24, Gambari said.
Burma should sign an agreement with U.N. agencies to allow them to deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need, he said. In addition, Gambari said, government leaders should reach agreement with the ILO so there will be a mechanism to address complaints about forced labor.
Bolton said that the health and release of Aung San Suu Kyi are very high priorities.
"It is part of the responsibility of the government of Burma which has put her under house arrest these last several years to make sure ... she is not denied appropriate humanitarian assistance," the U.S. ambassador said.
In September, the United States was successful in getting Burma formally placed on the Security Council's agenda. At the time, Bolton warned the council that, absent any significant change in Burma's policies, the U.S. would seek a resolution.
"We didn't put this issue on the agenda simply to have briefings," he said. (See related article.)
For more information on U.S. policies, see U.S. Support for Democracy in Burma.
(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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