China, Russia Block UNSC Statement On Myanmar

China and Russia have blocked the UN Security Council from issuing a statement Friday expressing concern over the violence and serious humanitarian situation in Myanmar and “limited progress” on implementing a regional plan to restore peace to the strife-torn Southeast Asian nation. The meeting behind closed doors was virtually briefed by Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, the special envoy for Myanmar for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and UN envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer on efforts to resolve the crisis in the country since the February 1 military coup last year. The proposed British-drafted press statement, obtained by The Associated Press, stressed the central role of ASEAN “in facilitating a peaceful solution to the crisis” and reiterated council members’ calls to pursue dialogue “with all parties concerned” in the interests of the people of Myanmar. “However, they expressed concern at the limited progress against the Five Point Consensus over a year since it was agreed, and called for concrete actions to effectively and fully implement the consensus,” the proposed statement said. China’s UN mission said it proposed “slow” progress rather than “limited” progress on the Five Point Consensus, saying in a statement that this wording “is factual but less condescending.” China said it also offered other formulations that weren’t accepted, and “the penholder”—Britain—“simply gave up” negotiating, which it called “very unfortunate,” saying there was only a slight difference that was “not impossible to overcome.”