[REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY]

Thank you, Peter, for inviting me to participate in this exciting discussion. It is an honor to be here today.

We are extremely privileged to have Burma’s largest election observation network, the People’s Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE), with us.

Ko Sai [Sai Ye Kyaw Swar Myint, Executive Director of PACE], we commend you for the integral role PACE played in making history.

Although there were structural and systematic flaws, the November election was the most inclusive, credible and transparent in Burma’s recent history.   

It was an incredible election. Millions of people from around the country — many of whom were voting for the first time — seized this opportunity to move one step closer to a democracy that respects the rights of all.

I observed the election firsthand in Shan State and Mandalay Region – from Muslim-majority polling stations to military bases. 

The election was orderly, poll workers and political parties were well trained, and there were independent eyes on each part of the election day process. The vote counting was fully transparent and broadcast on national TV.

I’ve observed a few elections in the developing world and this was no easy feat.   

The challenges were enormous in a country with little experience conducting elections — and no electronic voter list.

Burma has 53 million people, over 100 languages, 90 political parties and other significant limitations such as active armed conflict and lack of infrastructure, which posed incredible challenges to this election.

USAID is proud of the role it played as the lead donor supporting this historic election. In total, the U.S. Government provided $18 million to support the election.

We congratulate our partners NDI [National Democratic Institute], IRI [International Republican Institute] and IFES [International Foundation for Electoral Systems] for the excellent work they did over the past few years assisting civil society organizations like PACE in preparing for the election. Specifically we funded or assisted in:

• Digitizing 33 million names on the country’s paper-based voter list;
• Assisting the Union Election Commission to incorporate international standards in its procedures, train poll workers, strengthen voter education and increase participation of civil society;
• Reaching 18 million mobile phone users — the majority of all cell phone users in the entire country — with voter education messages;
• Assisting 300 civil society organizations with voter and civic education, domestic observation, and activities to better include persons with disabilities in the electoral process;
• Training over 11,000 political party members from 84 political parties;
• And training 5,000 independent domestic election observers as well as international observers through The Carter Center.

The critical role of election observers like PACE cannot be overstated. Domestic and international observers worked together to ensure there were independent eyes and checks and balances throughout the entire electoral cycle.

USAID’s assistance to the people of Burma did not start with this year’s election. It goes back over 20 years, with our long-running support to displaced and vulnerable refugee populations on the Burma-Thailand border, which I also visited last month.

USAID’s assistance today is rooted in a pledge President Barack Obama made in 2012 to the people of Burma: That if we continued to see progress toward reform, the ties between our countries would grow stronger, and the United States would continue to do whatever it could to help ensure Burma’s success.

USAID seized the opportunity with the re-opening of our mission in 2012 to support those positioned to lead change — civil society — and to deepen existing reforms and foster demands for change. Over the past three-plus years we have worked to lay the foundation for this moment.

The ongoing reforms and transition in Burma are part of President Obama’s Asia-Pacific Rebalance policy. After decades of isolation, a democratic Burma is essential for the prosperity and stability not only of its citizens but also for the region and the world. The transition in Burma is in its early stages and USAID — as well as our partners in the Administration and in Congress — will remain closely engaged in the process.

Moving forward, the United States remains a committed partner to those who seek greater freedom, prosperity and dignity in Burma.

Thank you.

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