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BURMA/UN ENVOY



DATE=8/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237037
TITLE=BURMA / U-N ENVOY (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN (THURSDAY) SAYS HE IS 
DISAPPOINTED WITH BURMA'S REJECTION OF HIS PROPOSAL TO SEND A 
SPECIAL ENVOY TO THAT COUNTRY FOR TALKS ON DEMOCRATIC REFORMS.  
V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS THE STORY.

TEXT:  U-N SPOKESMAN JUAN CARLOS BRANDT SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL 
KOFI ANNAN HAD HOPED TO NAME THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE U-N 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, RAZALI ISMAIL OF MALAYSIA, AS HIS SPECIAL 
EMISSARY TO BURMA.  MR. ANNAN SENT A LETTER TO BURMA'S MILITARY 
LEADERS LATE LAST WEEK PROPOSING THE MISSION.

                       /// BRANDT ACT ///

         THE RESPONSE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER WAS POLITE BUT 
         STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR SUCH A RUSHED VISIT 
         AND THAT THE DIALOGUE THAT THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE
         GOVERNMENT OF MYANMAR HAD MAINTAINED SINCE 1994 COULD 
         CONTINUE WHEN THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF MYANMAR IS IN NEW 
         YORK NEXT MONTH FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S GENERAL 
         DEBATE.  THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IS DISAPPOINTED BY THE 
         RESPONSE.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. ANNAN HAD HOPED THE PROPOSED ENVOY WOULD HOLD TALKS WITH 
BURMA'S LEADERS AIMED AT EASING TENSION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT 
AND PRO-DEMOCRACY POLITICAL GROUPS.  POLITICAL TENSION IN BURMA 
HAS BEEN ON THE RISE IN RECENT WEEKS AMID AN INCREASE IN 
RESTRICTIONS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU 
KYI.  BURMA IS FACING WIDESPREAD INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM FOR 
FORCIBLY STOPPING HER FROM TRAVELLING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

DIPLOMATS SAY MR. ANNAN BELIEVES HIGH-LEVEL, QUIET DIPLOMACY 
COULD BE EFFECTIVE IN PERSUADING BURMESE AUTHORITIES TO OPEN A 
DIALOGUE WITH OPPOSITION LEADERS.  THEY SAY THEY ARE GROWING 
INCREASINGLY CONCERNED PUBLIC UNREST COULD BREAK OUT IF THE 
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT TAKE MEASURES SOON TO OPEN THE POLITICAL 
SYSTEM AND EASE TENSION.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF

13-Aug-98 2:56 PM EDT (1856 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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