Cablegate: Singapore Pm Lee "Encouraged" by Un Advisor

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PP RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHPB RUEHVC
DE RUEHGP #1842 2761014
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031014Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4155
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0136
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0463
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0339
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1830
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0299
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0084
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 001842

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SENSITIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE PM LEE "ENCOURAGED" BY UN ADVISOR
GAMBARI'S BURMA MISSION

1. (SBU) In response to our request for information on UN
Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari,s October 3 discussions with
Singapore officials, MFA confirmed that he had met with Prime
Minister Lee and Foreign Minister Yeo. MFA provided us the
press statement in paragraph two but no further details at
this point. We will use the opportunity of the Charge,s
scheduled October 4 meeting with the PM,s Principal Private
Secretary to try to obtain a readout.

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2. (U) Begin text MFA Press statement.

The UN Secretary General's Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari is
passing through Singapore following his recent visit to
Myanmar. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in Singapore's
capacity as ASEAN Chair, received a courtesy call by Mr.
Gambari. Mr. Lee exchanged views with Mr. Gambari on his
visit to Myanmar, where he had met the Chairman of the State
Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe and
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Mr. Lee was encouraged by the access
and cooperation given by the Myanmar government to Mr.
Gambari.

Mr. Lee had earlier discussed the developments in Myanmar
with the other ASEAN leaders. Mr. Lee told Mr. Gambari that
ASEAN is fully behind his mission to help all parties
involved in Myanmar work towards a political solution for
national reconciliation and a peaceful transition to
democracy. Singapore has conveyed these views to Myanmar
leaders, and has called on Myanmar to continue keeping its
channels open to the UN. Mr. Lee also encouraged Mr. Gambari
to press on with the UN's efforts, which offer the best hope
for Myanmar and its people.

Mr. Gambari also met Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo.
They had a fruitful exchange of views on developments in
Myanmar.

End text.

Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
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