INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Cambodia and Draft Unscr On Burma

Published: Wed 27 Dec 2006 09:19 AM
VZCZCXRO4358
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHPF #2229 3610919
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 270919Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7752
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1563
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 2204
C O N F I D E N T I A L PHNOM PENH 002229
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNSC CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIA AND DRAFT UNSCR ON BURMA
REF: STATE 197809
Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Margaret B. McKean; Reason: 1.5 (b) and
(d)
1. (C) On December 27, the Ambassador and Pol/Econ Chief
met with MFA Secretary of State Ouch Borith regarding reftel
demarche. (Note: P/E Chief had met separately on December
15 with MFA Deputy Director for International Organizations
So Soeung Ha and delivered reftel demarche points. At the
time, no senior MFA officials were available. End Note.)
The Ambassador prefaced his remarks by underscoring USG
recognition of PM Hun Sen's outspoken position on Burma over
the past year and the PM's willingness to meet with exiled
NLD parliamentarians during the inauguration of the Cambodian
National Assembly's Burma Caucus. The Embassy, however, had
been disappointed with Cambodia's lack of support during the
Third Committee vote regarding the human rights resolution on
Burma.
2. (C) The Ambassador provided Borith with a copy of the
demarche points, noting that the draft resolution is not
punitive and does not call for sanctions. He emphasized that
ASEAN nations have a strong stake in Burma's future, and
urged the RGC to engage with UNSC members who may oppose the
resolution. Borith responded that he had read the text of
the resolution and agreed that it was not objectionable. The
MFA official said that he would take up the matter with FM
Hor Namhong to see if the RGC could approach members of the
Security Council, but made no guarantees. He added that
Cambodia is aware that China opposes the resolution.
3. (C) Borith explained that the RGC stance towards the
human rights resolution on Burma in the Third Committee was
geared to providing the Rangoon government with one final
chance to take positive steps on its own initiative.
However, the RGC will be studying developments in Burma very
closely and hopes that ASEAN member states will coordinate
action on Burma in the future. Borith underscored that
Cambodia's recent vote against the Burma human rights
resolution was not a change in the PM's policy.
4. (C) On a separate subject, Borith told the Ambassador
that the PM had met recently with a Japanese delegation, and
North Korea was discussed. Borith said that next year, the
RGC would support a DPRK human rights resolution in the Third
Committee. (Note: Cambodia abstained during the no action
motion this year. End Note.)
MUSSOMELI
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