[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

TRANSCRIPT: STATE DEPARTMENT NOON B



Subject: TRANSCRIPT: STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING ON EU/ BURMA [EXTRACT]

Dear Netters,
                         The following document is a part of the transcript
that I extracted from the US State Department Briefing. The interview about
Burma was conducted by a reporter . The questions were answered by James
Foley , the US State Department Deputy Spokesman. I hope the information is
of use. Please feel free to publish or distribute the following infromation
for the freedom of Burma.

Sincerely,

Julien Moe

07 July 1999 

TRANSCRIPT: STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, JULY 7, 1999 

State Department Deputy Spokesman James Foley briefed.
Following is the extract on EU mission to Burma from  the State Department
transcript
 The interview between a reporter and James Foley:

Q: I have a question and maybe you have something to date. Have you
seen the reports that there has been a four-person European Union
delegation in Mayanmar, formerly known as Burma?

FOLEY:  Yes.

Q:  Do you have any views on that?

FOLEY: Yes, we support the discussions by the special European mission
which has arrived in Burma for talks intended to encourage Burma to
improve its dismal human rights performance. The U.S. has long urged
Burmese authorities to begin a real substantive dialogue with the
National League for Democracy, including Aung San Sui Kyi, and leaders
of Burma's ethnic minority groups, leading to a peaceful democratic
transition. We call on Burma to improve its human rights record by
stopping such practices as forced labor, extra-judicial and arbitrary
executions, rape, torture, mass arrests, forced labor -- I mentioned
that already -- forced relocation and denial of freedom of expression,
and by permitting the parliament that was democratically elected in
1990 to convene. So we support the team's effort.

Q: Do you have any indication that Burma has changed its mind, that
the regime has changed it mind and is willing to sort of consider
these issues in a positive way?

FOLEY: Well, I personally have not seen anything recently that
indicates any change in their consistent stonewalling in this regard.

Q: Then how come you're endorsing this mission? I thought the whole
--?

FOLEY: Because it's important to discuss this matter with them. If we
are alone waging an effort to spotlight the dismal human rights record
in Burma, that's one thing. We have to do our job as befits our view
and vision of human rights in the world. We're willing to do that if
we stand alone. But it certainly is more effective when others join
that struggle. So in that regard, we support the fact that the EU is
willing to go there and to sit down and discuss these issues with
Burma. The message needs to be constantly reinforced with the Burmese
authorities.

Q: So you're persuaded that this is going to focus mostly on human
rights and not prospect for business?

FOLEY: Our understanding is that the purpose of the mission is to
focus on human rights and the prospects -- check that -- the ongoing
political stand-off between the government and the opposition.

PRESS:  Thank you.

(end transcript)


----------------------------------------------