The United States has formally requested the U.N. Security Council add Burma to its agenda.
Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Kristen Silverberg says that the long-standing human rights problems in Burma have resulted in regional consequences.
She cites a report compiled by former Czech President Vaclav Havel and Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu of South Africa as saying the flow of refugees from Burma causes instability, drug trafficking, human trafficking and the spread of communicable disease.
Silverberg says the U.S. is "disappointed" with the way the new Human Rights Council of the U.N. has handled Burma so far. She says Washington will press the matter at the U.N. General Assembly.
