AUSTRALIA TO SEND ENVOY TO BURMA...

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: AUSTRALIA TO SEND ENVOY TO BURMA....

DATE=7/26/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-217689
TITLE=AUSTRALIA/BURMA (S)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=KUALA LUMPUR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AUSTRALIA SAYS IT PLANS TO SEND A SPECIAL ENVOY TO BURMA 
FOR TALKS WITH THE RULING STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION 
COUNCIL, KNOWN AS SLORC, AND THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 
DEMOCRACY.  SPEAKING IN KUALA LUMPUR, AUSTRALIA'S FOREIGN 
MINISTER SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT IS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SLOW PACE 
OF POLITICAL REFORM IN BURMA.  CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS 
FROM THE MALAYSIAN CAPITAL.

TEXT:  FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER SAYS A SPECIAL ENVOY 
WILL BE SENT TO BURMA WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO ENCOURAGE THE 
SPEEDING UP OF POLITICAL REFORM.

MR. DOWNER, WHO IS ATTENDING A MEETING OF THE ASEAN REGIONAL 
FORUM, SAYS ASIAN COUNTRIES AS WELL AS WESTERN NATIONS SHOULD 
KEEP APPLYING PRESSURE ON BURMA TO GET POLITICAL REFORM MOVING.

                       /// DOWNER ACT ///

         I MEAN, CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN BURMA IS TRAVELLING AT 
         ABOUT THE PACE OF GLUE UP A HILL.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. DOWNER QUOTES BURMESE FOREIGN MINISTER OHN GYAW AS TELLING 
HIM LAST WEEK'S MEETING BETWEEN MILITARY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY CAN NOT BE CONSTRUED AS THE 
BEGINNING OF A DIALOGUE.

MR. DOWNER ALSO QUOTES OHN GYAW AS DENYING THERE ARE ANY 
POLITICAL DETAINEES IN BURMA.   (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/RAE