US government on Burma sham election

Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
November 8, 2010

BURMA
Elections / Evaluating Outcome

QUESTION: On Burma, the elections are now over. When do you plan to resume your engagement or the next round of talks with the new Burmese Government? And do you think you’ll soon appoint a new Burmese envoy, a special envoy on Burma?

MR. CROWLEY: We’re still evaluating. On your latter point, that is something that we’re still evaluating. On the first point, obviously, Burma is going through the process of announcing the winners of this election. We’ve made our position clear in Secretary Clinton’s statement yesterday that this was not a free or fair or legitimate election. Where we go from here, let’s wait and see what emerges from Burma.

QUESTION: But you are still looking to have talks with the new Burmese Government that comes out of this election?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, we are prepared to have discussions with Burma. We’ve had them in the past. We’re prepared to have them in the future. But clearly, we’re disappointed at what we think is a missed opportunity by Burma in the context of this just-completed election.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2010/11/150531.htm