Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Burmese counterpart on allowing international observers to monitor a future national ceasefire agreement; and if he will make a statement.

A national ceasefire agreement in Burma is still being negotiated. Negotiations include discussions on the nature and extent of ceasefire monitoring mechanisms and on the role international observers could play. Our Ambassador in Rangoon has made clear our strong support for international observers of any future ceasefire. Ultimately this is a matter for the various Burmese parties themselves to decide.