Thank you, Sally Thompson, for that kind introduction and to the Border Consortium for organizing this important and timely event today. It is truly an honor to be here.

I want to begin by recognizing the many organizations here in this room that have been providing critical assistance to those made vulnerable by conflict and neglect. You have been doing this with unwavering dedication. It is a privilege to partner with you in addressing, and hopefully resolving, the long standing conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands over the past 27 years.

Burma has come a long way since political reforms began in 2011, but significant work remains to help bring about the full promise of democracy, human rights, development, and justice. The country faces challenges to sustaining these reforms, such as communal divisions caused by decades of fear and mistrust, weak rule of law, a flawed constitution, and the lack of an independent judiciary. The recently signed ceasefire agreement is a step in the process of national reconciliation and in four days Burma will hold national elections. 

I will be in Burma in a few days, but I wanted to visit here first to reiterate the U.S. commitment to the refugee community along the Thai-Burma border. The U.S. Government has a longstanding commitment to the refugees, migrant population, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) along the Thai-Burma border. U.S. assistance to the border remains one of our largest and most important programs.

We recognize the rich history of civil society and its strong leaders – including many here in this room. Civil society empowerment is at the center of the United States' assistance work.  The reforms have created the opportunity for USAID to re-open inside Burma to better support those seeking greater freedom, prosperity, and dignity. But this support has not come at the expense of our commitment to communities along the Thai-Burma border.  I am here today in Mae Sot because of this commitment to supporting you in the life-saving work along this border.  

Helping Burma achieve lasting peace and national reconciliation is a top priority of the United States and is essential to ensure durable democratic and economic reform in Burma. USAID has provided over $100 million to conflict affected communities since 2012, and $8.5 million in support of the peace process.  The signing of the text of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement by the government and eight ethnic armed groups is a step in a long process of building a sustainable and just peace in Burma.  The long-term stability of the country hinges on successful national reconciliation and the end to over 60 years of armed conflict.

We respect the concerns of those groups who did not sign. We urge the Government of Burma to engage constructively with these groups to pursue a more inclusive peace. 
Dialogue among all parties will be essential to ensuring continued progress toward national trust-building and lasting peace. We urge all parties to continue to engage with each other and civil society representatives in the spirit of unity and compromise, particularly in the process to finalize a political dialogue framework and the conduct of the political dialogue itself.

It is further essential that all parties cease hostilities, allow urgent humanitarian assistance to flow to all those in need without exception or delay, and proceed with a national political dialogue that includes a full range of stakeholders. 

Government officials and all ethnic armed groups, as well as representatives of political parties, civil society, youth, women, and others should be included in helping to shape the future of their country.  

Burma’s November 8 election will be a critical test in the country’s ongoing political transition.  One election will not complete the democratic transition, but it could be an important step. 

We recognize that there are deficiencies in the current process, including much needed constitutional reform and the military’s automatic share of 25 percent of the seats in parliament.

Despite the flaws, it is our hope that Sunday’s polls will expand opportunities for the people of Burma to participate in their country’s governance.

We know that elections are not a one-day event and the hard work will not end on November 8. The real work of transition and reform is ahead. It will be critical for the next Government of Burma to redouble reform efforts and tackle challenging issues such as constitutional reform, national political dialogue, and land rights, while continuing to build the trust of the people.

The U.S. Government is proud to be the single largest donor on the Thai-Burma border. By supporting the technical, institutional, leadership and advocacy capacities of community organizations, USAID has helped to increase access to critical health care, education, food security and protection for displaced people in conflict-affected areas in the South East part of the country and in the border provinces and refugee camps of Thailand.

Approximately 110,000 refugees from Burma live in nine official camps on the Thai-Burma border including approximately 50,000 who have not been registered, and up to three million additional migrants from Burma in Thailand.

USAID's current program, the Project for Local Empowerment (PLE), partners with over 30 community based organizations to deliver basic services to over one million displaced or conflict-affected people, migrants and refugees on both sides of the border. This includes primary health care for over a half million people, basic education for 200,000 students, and emergency cash transfers for tens of thousands. Five IDP camps receive food assistance from PLE.

PLE supports our partners’ efforts to enhance collaboration on basic service delivery such as health and education in conflict-affected areas in South East Burma and advocates for the recognition of skills of the border-based workforce including health personnel, teachers and students along the Thai-Burma border.

Through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, the U.S. Government is committed to remain in the Thai-Burma border camps to provide life-saving assistance until conditions are right for sustainable voluntary return. 

We hope that the changes we are witnessing in Burma today will lead to more transformative change that will bring lasting peace and security, democracy and prosperity to the country for this generation and all that follow. 

Thank you very much.