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WASHINGTON—The United States is talking to the Burmese military junta about its international obligations to implement a United Nations Security Council resolution on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, a US official has said.
“That is something that we watch very carefully,” State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley told reporters at a daily news briefing, when referring to recent reports that Burma has been violating the UN Security Council resolution 1874.
“We are talking to Burma, reminding Burma about its international obligations under 1874 and other resolutions,” Crowley said, adding that the State Department has had conversations with Sen. Jim Webb in this regard.
“It’s a country that he recognizes is of significance,” Crowley said. “I’m sure that we will continue our conversations with Sen. Webb and others in the Congress about the best way forward.”
Webb wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently alleging that the State Department was not sharing information with him in this regard.
“In May 2010, Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell raised allegations that Burma has violated its commitment to UN Resolution 1874 regarding acceptance of shipments of military items from North Korea,” Webb said.
“Although not explained in his statement, and not validated by subsequent information, news reports alleged that Burma received a shipment of arms from North Korea. This allegation, which from my understanding has yet to be publicly clarified and substantiated by the State Department, has frozen any prospect of further engagement with the Burmese government,” Webb said in a letter to Clinton on June 8.
“Prior to my recent Asia trip, I and my staff worked for weeks to seek public clarification of this allegation, but the State Department provided none. At the time I left for my trip to Asia, no other countries had joined the United States in this allegation, although it had been discussed with several other countries. The State Department still has not publicly clarified this matter,” he said.
“My staff was told by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel that no other nation has joined the United States in publicly denouncing Burma on this matter,” he said.
In his letter, Webb also urged Clinton to appoint a special representative for Burma under the 2008 Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act, which requires the president to appoint a special representative and policy coordinator for Burma.
Webb recommended Eric John, who currently serves as ambassador to Thailand, for the position.
“Ambassador John has spent many years in East Asia and has long experience in dealing with the North Korean regime on issues that might be similar to those we will be facing in Burma,” he said.
“Among other responsibilities, this position should promote a comprehensive international effort, including multilateral sanctions, direct dialogue with the SPDC and democracy advocates, and support for nongovernmental organizations operating in Burma and neighboring countries, designed to restore civilian democratic rule to Burma and address the urgent humanitarian needs of the Burmese people,” Webb said. Since the act has been in effect, the position has not been filled.
Dear Secretary Clinton:
In my capacity as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, I visited Korea and Thailand last week to assess the current situation in both of those countries, as well as in the region. I had also intended to visit Burma on this trip, but postponed my visit for reasons described below.
Following meetings with government representatives, business and community leaders, U.S. diplomats, and others, I would like to share with you the following observations and recommendations. As you will note, some of these recommendations are quite time-sensitive.
1. United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement:
I believe strongly that the United States, the Republic of Korea, and all of East Asia will benefit greatly from the implementation of the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). I am also very concerned about the time delay in gaining congressional approval for this agreement.
The KORUS FTA was signed on June 30, 2007. With this agreement, tariffs on consumer and industrial goods will be immediately eliminated on almost 95 percent of all bilateral trade within three years. Tariffs on two-thirds of U.S. agricultural exports will be immediately eliminated. U.S. automakers have concerns, and processes exist for these matters to be addressed.
WASHINGTON—The United States is talking to the Burmese military junta about its international obligations to implement a United Nations Security Council resolution on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, a US official has said.
“That is something that we watch very carefully,” State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley told reporters at a daily news briefing, when referring to recent reports that Burma has been violating the UN Security Council resolution 1874.
“We are talking to Burma, reminding Burma about its international obligations under 1874 and other resolutions,” Crowley said, adding that the State Department has had conversations with Sen. Jim Webb in this regard.
“It’s a country that he recognizes is of significance,” Crowley said. “I’m sure that we will continue our conversations with Sen. Webb and others in the Congress about the best way forward.”
Webb wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently alleging that the State Department was not sharing information with him in this regard.
“In May 2010, Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell raised allegations that Burma has violated its commitment to UN Resolution 1874 regarding acceptance of shipments of military items from North Korea,” Webb said.
“Although not explained in his statement, and not validated by subsequent information, news reports alleged that Burma received a shipment of arms from North Korea. This allegation, which from my understanding has yet to be publicly clarified and substantiated by the State Department, has frozen any prospect of further engagement with the Burmese government,” Webb said in a letter to Clinton on June 8.
“Prior to my recent Asia trip, I and my staff worked for weeks to seek public clarification of this allegation, but the State Department provided none. At the time I left for my trip to Asia, no other countries had joined the United States in this allegation, although it had been discussed with several other countries. The State Department still has not publicly clarified this matter,” he said.
“My staff was told by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel that no other nation has joined the United States in publicly denouncing Burma on this matter,” he said.
In his letter, Webb also urged Clinton to appoint a special representative for Burma under the 2008 Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act, which requires the president to appoint a special representative and policy coordinator for Burma.
Webb recommended Eric John, who currently serves as ambassador to Thailand, for the position.
“Ambassador John has spent many years in East Asia and has long experience in dealing with the North Korean regime on issues that might be similar to those we will be facing in Burma,” he said.
“Among other responsibilities, this position should promote a comprehensive international effort, including multilateral sanctions, direct dialogue with the SPDC and democracy advocates, and support for nongovernmental organizations operating in Burma and neighboring countries, designed to restore civilian democratic rule to Burma and address the urgent humanitarian needs of the Burmese people,” Webb said. Since the act has been in effect, the position has not been filled.
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Full Text of Senator Jim Webb to Secretary of State Hillary ClintonDear Secretary Clinton:
In my capacity as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, I visited Korea and Thailand last week to assess the current situation in both of those countries, as well as in the region. I had also intended to visit Burma on this trip, but postponed my visit for reasons described below.
Following meetings with government representatives, business and community leaders, U.S. diplomats, and others, I would like to share with you the following observations and recommendations. As you will note, some of these recommendations are quite time-sensitive.
1. United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement:
I believe strongly that the United States, the Republic of Korea, and all of East Asia will benefit greatly from the implementation of the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). I am also very concerned about the time delay in gaining congressional approval for this agreement.
The KORUS FTA was signed on June 30, 2007. With this agreement, tariffs on consumer and industrial goods will be immediately eliminated on almost 95 percent of all bilateral trade within three years. Tariffs on two-thirds of U.S. agricultural exports will be immediately eliminated. U.S. automakers have concerns, and processes exist for these matters to be addressed.
