Transcript of Doorstop Interview with Minister George Yeo and UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on 30 September 2007

Miliband: Obviously the foreign ministers are in a key position as we watch the developments in Burma. For my part, I said how much we valued the very strong ASEAN statement yesterday, which obviously was achieved under the Foreign Minister's stewardship and we both recognised and stressed to each other the importance of the trip by Ambassador Gambari. He's currently in Singapore but will be travelling to Burma tomorrow. And the development of a political process that reaches out to all sides of Burmese society is now really essential. But maybe the Foreign Minister would like to say a word himself.

Minister: Gambari has been issued a visa to enter Myanmar and he's the best hope we have. He's got links to both sides. To a certain extent he's trusted by both sides. On his last two visits to Myanmar, he's been given access to Aung San Suu Kyi so if he can help them achieve national reconciliation, that would be of enormous value. We're not very hopeful but it's the best shot we have and the key now is to build up the authority and the moral prestige of Ambassador Gambari.

Q: What will be success for Ambassador Gambari? What are the benchmarks that both of you are looking for to come out of this mission?

Minister: He needs to talk to all sides and he needs to begin to find common ground and begin a process of negotiation. That's what you need.

Miliband: I think that the Foreign Minister's emphasis on a political process is absolutely essential. Obviously the first step for Ambassador Gambari is to reach the highest levels of the regime and to see the opposition. But secondly, the second step is to create a political process that creates a viable and sustainable future, and a stable future, for Burma.

Q: What about Aung San Suu Kyi?

Minister: Including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Q: She has to released right? That's part of the negotiation?

Minister: No, we can't lay down preconditions now. The important thing is to begin talking. If there is a rupture, then the situation will have to become much worse before it can become better.

Q: Can I ask both ministers, are you worried that the situation will become much worse since the generals have been able to cut most of the Internet links of the country? Very few pictures are now getting out and in fact, the death toll may be much higher than the figures that the regime admits to. The real danger is that they could be just digging in.

Miliband: We've obviously been both looking at the confirmed reports and the unconfirmed reports. Both of those sets of reports are obviously worrying. The situation on the ground is one where we are both trying to stay in touch with our ambassadors to the country to provide us with an update on the ground. I think that what you said about the Internet links and the mobile phone links heightens the importance of the Gambari mission. And he goes there with the full authority of the Secretary General and of the UN. And that's why we want him to see all relevant sides, but also create a political process in which the international community can have confidence. Let the Foreign Minister answer this question.

Minister: Because Gambari is going there, I believe that the Yangon government will be restrained in what it does. But then the demonstrators may come out in full force, then there could be heightened tension as a result. So what is important here is the political process signalled by what Gambari does in Yangon. It's critical. We have to support him. If he fails, then the situation can become quite dreadful.

Q: Excuse me Foreign Minister, have you heard any feedback yet from China. Has there been any sort of response or vibration in response to the ASEAN statement?

Minister: I believe China is trying to play a helpful role. It's concerned about the precedent set in the UN Security Council, but China knows that Myanmar is an important neighbour. It doesn't want a problem on its doorstep. So I believe China is playing a helpful role, but mostly behind the scenes.

Miliband: Okay, thanks very much. Thank you.