Remarks to the Press in Thailand

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I think we’ll have an announcement on that at some point. We had some very good discussions with the Chinese, and I think there is an idea that we might try to arrange something this weekend before I go on to Vietnam. But I don’t think we’re ready to make an announcement at this time.

QUESTION: Mr. Hill, [inaudible] Myanmar. First of all, what role do you think that the neighbors can play in helping bring back [inaudible]?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well, first of all, I think we are all disturbed by the events in Myanmar in recent years and especially in recent months. The crackdown on the monks was especially something that was of great concern all over the world. So I think we all want to see Myanmar begin to improve its dialogue with its opposition, especially with the release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi. And then as it goes forward in a political process, it needs to go forward in a very inclusive way -- that is, to bring in other political parties, other ethnic groups, and especially Aung San Suu Kyi, who is very much a symbol of the opposition movement in Burma. This process of closing out these people has really left Burma in a very isolated state and not a healthy state for a country of such strategic importance and size.

So one thing that I think can be done is, I think ASEAN needs to be as strong as possible. I think it’s very important for the ASEAN members to work very hard together to develop, get this charter passed, and really to show itself as the organization that it is -- that is, an organization embracing free markets, but also embracing democratization throughout ASEAN. And I think as ASEAN is stronger, that will really, I think, help Burma understand that in order to be stronger itself it needs to live up to those higher ASEAN standards.

I know that’s something that, a view that we share with our Thai friends, and we look forward to working with Thailand on this endeavor.

QUESTION: [Inaudible] put on by the U.S. orchestra [inaudible]. Do you see something following this or anything similar coming up?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well, we’ll see. We’ll see. I’m a strong believer in music -- especially when sometimes they don’t like the words, maybe they’ll like the music. But we’ll
have to see. I mean, we have a lot on the table with the North Koreans. I think if they understand that to give up these nuclear ambitions is to really open up a whole world of possibilities for them, and I think it’s symbolized by that fabulous orchestra that was there playing such pieces as New World Symphony. Indeed, it will be a new world for the DPRK to give up their nuclear weapons.

QUESTION: Is there any chance that Pyongyang will [inaudible] the nuclear [inaudible]? [Inaudible] say that they haven’t received any [inaudible] yet.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well, they’ve been receiving a lot of assistance and I think they’re trying to disable the nuclear facility. And we’re hopeful that we’ll just continue and use the momentum from that, maybe use the momentum from the New York Philharmonic, and try to finish this job. Because right now it’s an unfinished work. I think artists can sell unfinished works, but diplomats cannot. We need to finish this job. Thank you.

QUESTION: [Inaudible]?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I don’t know. I’m not smart enough to understand that. [Laughter] See you later.