ALBRIGHT/BURMA VOA

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

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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