US Seeks UN Resolution On Burma, Says Rice

28 July 2006 (Bernama) - The United States is seeking a United Nations Security Council resolution that will make very clear the world's condemnation of the Myanmar regime's activities, particularly the detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Asean's statement on Myanmar was an important evolution of the Asean position and she believed that it was becoming more clear about the challenge that the international system faced with the country.

"I've been around international diplomacy and conferences enough to know that a statement like the one Asean had made on Burma is an important evolution of Asean's position," she told a news conference after attending the Asean Regional Forum at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here Friday.

The 10 Asean foreign ministers had expressed concerned over the pace of the Myanmar reconciliation process and hoped to see tangible progress that would lead to peaceful transition to democracy in the near future.

They also reiterated their calls for the early release of those placed under detention as contained in the Joint Communiqué of the 39th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Tuesday.

"I too know that members of Asean have spoken quite clearly about the need for the junta to make political reform and that Suu Kyi should be released and released unconditionally as quickly as possible," Rice said.

She said she discussed extensively with her Asean counterparts, individually and as a group, the need to press the Myanmar regime to make changes.

Asked why the US did not extend humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, Rice said: "One can't be in a position of even thinking about assistance for a regime that behaves in a way that the Burmese regime behaves."