*EPF503 03/02/01
Text: State Dept. on Powell Meeting with U.N. Envoy for Burma
(U.S. encourages dialogue between Burmese regime, Suu Kyi) (250)

Following is the text of a State Department statement on Secretary of State Colin Powell's March 1 meeting with United Nations Special Envoy for Burma Razali Ismail:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

March 1, 2001

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

Burma - Secretary's Meeting With UN Special Envoy Razali

Secretary Powell met today with UN Special Envoy for Burma Razali Ismail. The Secretary was encouraged by Ambassador Razali's report that dialogue between the Burmese regime and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is moving forward. We hope that dialogue will lead to national reconciliation in Burma and democratic transition to a civilian government. Ambassador Razali has brought an energetic, far-seeing, and balanced perspective to his efforts at facilitating communication between all parties in Burma. We strongly support his mission and are ready to assist him in any way we can. Although we are encouraged by this ongoing dialogue and recent releases of some political prisoners, we are mindful that the Burmese regime continues to systematically violate the fundamental, basic human rights of its citizens. We urge the Burmese regime to move forward in its dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's democratically elected representatives.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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