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ALBRIGHT/BURMA VOA
DATE=7/27/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-217716
TITLE=ALBRIGHT / BURMA / L
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=KUALA LUMPUR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM IN MALAYSIA, SECRETARY OF
STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS RESPONDED TO THE BURMESE FOREIGN
MINISTER WITH AN ATTACK ON THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES.
RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM KUALA LUMPUR.
TEXT: IN RESPONSE TO WHAT U-S OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AN "ORWELLIAN"
SPEECH BY BURMA'S FOREIGN MINISTER OHN GYAW, SECRETARY OF STATE
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS DENOUNCED ASEAN'S NEWEST MEMBER AS AN
ANOMALY.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS DESCRIBES THE SECRETARY
OF STATE'S TOUGH REBUTTAL TO BURMA AT THE CLOSED-DOOR MEETING OF
THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM.
///BURNS ACTUALITY///
SHE POINTED OUT THAT BURMA IS THE ONLY MEMBER OF ASEAN
THAT HAD BEEN SINGLED OUT BY THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FOR REFUSING TO HONOR THE ELECTION RESULTS IN ITS OWN
COUNTRY. SHE ALSO POINTED OUT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT
DRUG PROBLEM AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF BURMA HAS HAD
PROBLEMS IN CONTROLLING IT AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT
PROTECTS AND PROFITS FROM THE DRUG TRADE. SHE POINTED
OUT THAT IT'S ILLEGAL TO OWN A FAX MACHINE AND THAT
LEGITIMATE BUSINESSMAN -- NOT PEOPLE IN THE BLACK
MARKET, NOT NARCO-TRAFFICKERS -- ARE ROUTINELY STOPPED
FROM DOING BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY IN CURRENCY
TRANSACTIONS, BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT.
///END ACTUALITY///
THE SPOKESMAN SAYS SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT CALLED ON ASIAN
COUNTRIES THAT HAVE EMBASSIES IN RANGOON TO MEET WITH OPPOSITION
POLITICIANS, TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING ISOLATED BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE CAUTIONED THE JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER A
RECENT MEETING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND AN OPPOSITION
POLITICIAN MIGHT BE AN ATTEMPT TO SPLIT AUNG SAN SUU KYI FROM HER
PARTY --THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY.
ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW
ZEALAND ALSO CRITICIZED THE BURMESE FOREIGN MINISTER'S SPEECH.
HOWEVER, NO COUNTRY IN ASEAN HAS JOINED THE UNITED STATES IN
USING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AS A FORM OF PRESSURE ON THE BURMESE
LEADERS.
MR. BURNS ACKNOWLEDGES ASEAN -- WHICH ADMITTED BURMA AS A MEMBER,
EARLIER THIS YEAR -- AND THE UNITED STATES DISAGREE ABOUT
ISOLATING BURMA.
///BURNS ACTUALITY///
SO NOW THE DEBATE SHOULD REALLY BE, 'HOW CAN ASEAN
INFLUENCE POSITIVELY BURMA,' AND ONE IDEA IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT ASEAN IS TALKING NOT JUST TO THE MILITARY
DICTATORS BUT TO THE DEMOCRATS.
///END ACTUALITY///
ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS COMPLAIN THE BURMESE MILITARY LEADERS DO
NOT RESPOND TO THEIR ATTEMPTS TO OPEN A DIALOGUE ON INTERNAL
AFFAIRS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S ARGUMENT IS ASEAN HAS A
GREATER RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT, NOW THAT BURMA IS A MEMBER OF
THE ASSOCIATION.
// REST OPTIONAL //
ASEAN DELAYED CAMBODIA'S MEMBERSHIP BECAUSE OF THAT COUNTRY'S
INTERNAL TURMOIL. SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT IS ARGUING THAT
ASEAN IS SHOWING LEADERSHIP ON CAMBODIA AND IT SHOULD NOT DO ANY
LESS TOWARD BURMA. (SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
27-Jul-97 7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC)
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