Cablegate: Burma Envoy Gambari and Gvn Leaders Discuss Next Steps For

VZCZCXRO7677
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #2005 3320949
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280949Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6786
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 3990
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS HANOI 002005

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

Department for EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL BM VM
SUBJECT: BURMA ENVOY GAMBARI AND GVN LEADERS DISCUSS NEXT STEPS FOR
RESOLVING BURMA'S POLITICAL SITUATION

REF: HANOI 1932

1. (SBU) Summary: During a November 26-27 visit to Hanoi, UN Special
Envoy for Burma Ibrahim Gambari urged senior GVN officials to take
an active role in resolving the political situation in Burma. Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung presented a "somewhat strong" GVN position,
including calling for the Burmese Government to release political
prisoners and initiate a dialogue that includes Aung San Suu Kyi.
PM Dung's latest remarks echo his message earlier this month made
directly to Burma's Prime Minister Thein Sein during his visit to
Hanoi (Reftel). Vietnam remains opposed to sanctions. End
Summary.

2. (SBU) According to MFA Asia Two Department Assistant Director
Pham Hung Tam, Gambari briefed GVN officials on the progress of his
work with the Burmese Government and urged the GVN to take an active
role in international efforts to resolve Burma's internal political
crisis. Noting that Vietnam will soon be a Security Council member
and that it maintains better relations with the Burmese Government
than most other countries in Southeast Asia, Tam reported that
Gambari said he looks forward to the "active participation" of
Vietnam. Gambari also mentioned his requests to the Burmese
Government for a multiple entry visa to allow more frequent visits
and to allow him to act as an intermediary between the sides.

3. (SBU) UNDP Resident Representative John Hendra told Ambassador
Michalak that Gambari was "very pleased" with his visit. He said
Gambari was surprised that the Vietnamese were "actually somewhat
strong" on engaging the Burmese in constructive ways. According to
Hendra, who accompanied Gambari to his meetings, Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem said Burma must take
"concrete steps" on the seven-point roadmap, release all protesters
and initiate dialogue with all parties, including with Aung San Suu
Kyi. DPM Khiem also said Vietnam values the role of the UN in
resolving the situation in Burma and will continue to urge Burma to
cooperate.

4. (SBU) Hendra added that, during Prime Minister Dung's private
meeting with Gambari, Dung made the same points even more
forcefully. Hendra contrasted the GVN's current position with the
GVN response in 1996 when former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
asked for GVN support for release of Aung San Suu Kyi. At that
time, GVN officials stonewalled Annan on the request. While
indicating some flexibility, however, press reports of authoritative
GVN statements on February 27 confirm Vietnam's continued opposition
to sanctions in addressing the situation in Burma.

MICHALAK

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