Security Council moving toward adoption of Myanmar statement

UN Security Council envoys were expected to adopt a non-binding statement Thursday deploring the military crackdown in Myanmar, after the text was watered down to placate China and Russia.

Ambassadors from the 15-member body were due to meet Thursday morning to consider reactions from their capitals to the latest draft put forward by the United States, Britain and France late Wednesday.

After lengthy consultations, they said they reached broad agreement on key parts of the draft presidential statement and were hopeful that their capitals would give the green light for formal adoption. Unlike a resolution, a presidential statement requires the consent of all 15 council members to be adopted.

The latest version “strongly deplores the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators in Myanmar” and calls on Myanmar’s military regime and all other parties concerned “to work together toward a de-escalation of the situation and a peaceful solution.”

One calls “on the government to release all political prisoners and remaining detainees” and the other emphasizes “the importance of the early release of all political prisoners and remaining detainees.”

New York, Thursday, AFP