The United States is formally asking the U.N. Security Council to place Burma on its permanent agenda as part of efforts to pressure the country's military dictatorship on human rights issues.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, submitted a formal request Friday arguing that Burma is a threat to international peace and security. He said conditions in Burma, including a refugee crisis and the detention of more than one-thousand political prisoners, have a destabilizing impact on the region.
Similar efforts in the past to have Burma placed on the Council's permanent agenda have been blocked by Russia, China and other Asian countries.
Bolton said he felt confident he has support to force a formal vote on the matter.
The United States has been a vocal critic of Burma and has banned investments to the country for nearly a decade.
The U.S. has tried to pressure the country's military junta to release detained political leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent more than 10 or the last 17 years in detention.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, submitted a formal request Friday arguing that Burma is a threat to international peace and security. He said conditions in Burma, including a refugee crisis and the detention of more than one-thousand political prisoners, have a destabilizing impact on the region.
Similar efforts in the past to have Burma placed on the Council's permanent agenda have been blocked by Russia, China and other Asian countries.
Bolton said he felt confident he has support to force a formal vote on the matter.
The United States has been a vocal critic of Burma and has banned investments to the country for nearly a decade.
The U.S. has tried to pressure the country's military junta to release detained political leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent more than 10 or the last 17 years in detention.