US embassy cable - 05RANGOON1038

UNCLAS RANGOON 001038 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; OES; IO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, EAID, ECON, KSCA, PREL, SOCI, TBIO, BM, Avian Influenza 
SUBJECT: BURMA: INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON AVIAN FLU AND 
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA 
 
REF: A. STATE 164134 
     B. RANGOON 1036 
     C. RANGOON 988 
     D. RANGOON-EAP/MLS E-MAILS 
 
1. (SBU) On September 9, post delivered ref A talking points 
and the Statement of Core Principles to MFA Americas Division 
Director U Min Lwin and International Organizations Division 
Director U Denzil Abel.  Per ref D, we excised the talking 
point that specifically invited Burma to join the partnership. 
 
2. (U) In a follow up conversation with U Denzil Abel, we 
emphasized that the United States would announce the 
partnership initiative during upcoming UNGA meetings and that 
we placed a high priority on the avian influenza (AI) issue. 
We also encouraged a GOB reaction to the demarche at the 
earliest opportunity.  U Denzil Abel responded that he would 
inform the GOB's UNGA delegation, which departs for New York 
the evening of September 9 under the leadership of Foreign 
Minister U Nyan Win. 
 
3. (SBU) The GOB rarely responds to U.S. demarches and it is 
unlikely they will do so in this case.  Per refs B-C, GOB 
leaders do not yet appear to place a high priority on AI 
issues. 
Villarosa