Our policy is to support all action in the UN, including in the Security Council, which helps to promote reform and positive change in Burma. We therefore co-sponsored the UN Security Council Resolution on Burma with the United States which was put to the vote on 12 January. Nine members of the Security Council voted for the Resolution. However the Resolution was not adopted, as two permanent members of the Security Council—China and Russia—voted against, as did South Africa.
Disappointing though this result was, it is important to note that all Security Council members agreed that there were serious issues of concern in Burma. This, and the positive votes from a majority of Council partners, reflected the international community’s deep concern over the plight of Burma’s people. We will continue to work within the UN to ensure that Burma remains on the UN Security Council agenda.
On 24 January my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, met representatives from the Chin and Kachin ethnic groups in Burma to discuss the many difficulties faced by their respective communities, including violation of their religious freedoms.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Mr. McCartney) gave the hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton-Brown) on 4 December 2006, Official Report, columns 69-70W.
Members of the Non-Aligned Movement did not adopt a common position on Burma at the time the UN Security Council Resolution on Burma was put to the vote on 12 January. The Non-Aligned members of the UN Security Council voted as follows: Ghana, Panama and Peru voted in favour of the resolution; Indonesia, Congo and Qatar abstained; and South Africa voted against. China has observer status in the Non-Aligned Movement and voted against the resolution.