*EPF106 05/17/2004
Text: Stability in Burma Requires Engaging All Parties, State Dept. Says
(Minorities' withdrawal from national convention triggers concern) (350)

The United States maintains that stability in Burma is dependent on a substantive dialog that engages ethnic minorities and the democratic opposition as well as the government, according to a May 14 statement by State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli.

The statement, issued in response to an announcement that representatives of ethnic groups and the democratic opposition would not be attending a national constitutional convention organized by Burma's ruling party, expressed the hope "that the State Peace and Development Council will take the views of the National League for Democracy and the United Nationalities Alliance into account in this process."

Following is the text of the State Department release:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
[Washington, D.C.]
For Immediate Release
May 14, 2004
2004/547

Statement by Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman

Burma -- The Democratic Opposition and Ethnic Groups and the National Convention Representatives of the National League for Democracy and the United Nationalities Alliance announced today that their delegates would not attend the National Convention organized by the ruling military State Peace and Development Council to draft a new constitution for Burma.��National League for Democracy Party Chairman U Aung Shwe cited the Council's refusal to release senior party leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo, to reopen party offices across the country, and its failure to clarify procedures of discussion at the Convention.�� The United Nationalities Alliance, a group comprised of eight ethnic-based political parties that participated in Burma's 1990 election, noted the restrictive conditions on debate at the Convention, "which mean that it cannot solve the country's problems."

The United States maintains its consistent view that stability throughout the country will require substantive discussions among the democratic opposition, the ethnic minorities and the government, leading to national reconciliation and democracy.�� We hope that the State Peace and Development Council will take the views of the National League for Democracy and the United Nationalities Alliance into account in this process.

(end text)

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

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