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LETTER FROM U.S. DEPT. OF STATE (18



Subject: LETTER FROM U.S. DEPT. OF STATE (18/10/96)

/* Written 16 Nov 6:00am 1996 by drunoo@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma */
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LETTER FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (18/10/96)
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United States Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520

October 18, 1996

Dr. U Ne Oo
48/2 Ayliffes Road
St Marys SA 5042
Australia

Dear Dr. U Ne Oo:

We appreciate your report on Burma's refugee situation and letter to
Secretary Christopher, which was forwarded to me for reply. We note your
suggestion that a safety zone be created in Burma.

The United States, like the UNited Nations, has strongly criticized the
human rights violations by the government and military in Burma. As you
made reference to in your letter, this criticism has caused authorities in
Burma to deny visitation to Burma by the UNHCR's Special Rapporteur. The
United States is committed to taking an active role in the process of
resolving this issue. We have worked hard to raise our concerns about Burma
with other countries and have made progress in gaining agreement with
several ASEAN countries to intervene privately with the Burmese junta to
urge national reconciliation. We continue to urge international financial
institutions not to provide support to Burma under current conditions. We
maintain a range of unilateral sanctions and do not promote US Commercial
investment in or trade with Burma. We refrain from selling arms to Burma
and have an informal agreement with our G-7 friends and allies to do the
same.

Sincerely,
Sd. Kevin J. McGuire, Director
Office of Economic and Social Affairs
Bureau of International Organization Affairs

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