Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BRUSSELS2202
2005-06-08 16:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

MAY 22 COASI WORKING DINNER ON SOUTHEAST ASIA

Tags:  PREL PHUM ETRD XB EUN USEU BRUSSELS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 002202 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM ETRD XB EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: MAY 22 COASI WORKING DINNER ON SOUTHEAST ASIA

Classified By: USEU Pol M/C Kyle Scott for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 002202

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM ETRD XB EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: MAY 22 COASI WORKING DINNER ON SOUTHEAST ASIA

Classified By: USEU Pol M/C Kyle Scott for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)


1. (C) Summary: On May 22, EAP A/S Chris Hill participated
in a COASI working dinner on Southeast Asia with EU
representatives from the Luxembourg European Presidency, the
European Commission, the European Council, and the incoming
UK EU Presidency. The participants discussed North Korea, in
addition to agenda items on Indonesia, the Philippines, Burma
and the EAS. On North Korea, Ambassador Lorenz and others
asked what the EU could do to help, and A/S Hill said that
they could continue to bring up human rights concerns with
the North Koreans. On Indonesia, the EU is becoming
increasingly engaged on Aceh and is considering contributing
a monitoring mission, but no decision has been made yet. On
Burma, the EU is changing its emphasis somewhat toward a
policy of engagement, stating that sanctions have become
irrelevant, given China and India's support for the regime.
Regarding the EAS, the EU recently asked for observership in
the organization, which ASEAN foreign ministers will discuss
when they meet at the end of July. End Summary.

2. (C) On May 22, EAP A/S Chris Hill participated in a COASI
working dinner on Southeast Asia with EU representatives from
the Luxembourg European Presidency, the European Commission,
the European Council, and the incoming UK EU Presidency. The
EU delegation was led by Ambassador Pierre-Louis Lorenz,
Luxembourg's Ambassador for Asia and Oceania. Accompanying
A/S Hill to the dinner were EAP RSP Director Patricia
Scroggs, USEU Political Minister Counselor Kyle Scott, EAP
Special Assistant Marc Koehler, USEU Political Officer Van
Reidhead, and Embassy Luxembourg Political Officer Julie
Breitfeld. The participants discussed North Korea,
Indonesia, the Philippines, Burma and the EAS.
NORTH KOREA: EU WANTS TO BE SUPPORTIVE

3. (C) A/S Hill began with an overview of the current status
of the six-party talks, noting that June 23 will mark the
one-year anniversary of no talks. In the meantime, the North
Koreans have harvested further plutonium. The US is
considering its next steps, but there are no good options.

We believe in dialogue, but we can't talk to an empty chair.
Key to this attempt will be more effort from the Chinese to
use their leverage with North Korea; however the Chinese also
are clearly exasperated with the North Koreans.

4. (C) Lorenz reiterated the EU's support for the talks. He
wondered whether North Korea was unwilling or incapable of
moving itself out of the corner and mentioned that China and
Korea often ask the EU to tell the US to be more flexible.
A/S Hill responded that he had been conciliatory at the ARF
and wanted to know if the Chinese and Koreans were still
thinking this since the recent meetings with the North
Koreans in New York. Antonio Tanca from the EU Council
inquired how long the current situation could go on. A/S
Hill responded that it could continue for a few more weeks,
but then the US will either have to pursue five-party talks
or report the issue to the UN

5. (C) Richard Wright, EC Director for the US, Japan and
Korea expressed the EU's desire to be supportive and asked
what the EU could do to help. A/S Hill suggested the EU
continue talking about human rights in North Korea so that
they realize this is not just an "American" issue. Lorenz
noted that the EU had pushed for a resolution in Geneva and
did not abandon the Geneva process as the North Koreans had
asked. Denis Keefe, Head of the Far Eastern Group, FCO,
London, noted that their options were limited on other ways
to raise the issue and asked whether it was worth getting a
discussion in UNGA on HR. A/S Hill responded that the more
human rights values are internalized, the better.
INDONESIA: EU BECOMING MORE ACTIVE ON ACEH

6. (C) A/S Hill presented his "glass half-full" view of
Indonesia: the US is encouraged by President Yudhoyono, who
has a keen understanding of governance, capacity building,
and the war on terrorism. He stressed that if we get it
right in Indonesia, the world's third largest democracy and a
moderate Islamic nation, then it will yield enormous
dividends throughout the region. He discussed U.S.
priorities and initiatives in Indonesia. A/S Hill praised
the EU's support for the Center for Law Enforcement
Cooperation in Jakarta and encouraged the EU to keep it up.
He also emphasized that it was important for EU leaders to go
to Jakarta to show their support.

7. (C) Lorenz agreed with A/S Hill on the key significance of
Indonesia and highlighted that it had held a recent EU-ASEAN
meeting in March, and will institute a bilateral Troika with
Indonesia in the near future. The EU fully supports the
Ahtisaari negotiations and has given 200,000 Euro in
financing. Lorenz reported that the EU also is making
progress in crisis management and that it is discussing
sending a monitoring mission to Aceh, but no decision has
been made yet. The EU was very far from having monitors
organized but would be happy to assist on the civilian side
of a 200-person team. EC Director for Asia Fokion Fotiadis
underscored that a monitoring mission would be a unique
opportunity for the EU to develop its cooperation with ASEAN;
however, he acknowledged that it is competing for resources
with other EU missions. The EU emphasized that it is
important not to give the impression that it would be a
peacekeeping mission, but rather strictly for monitoring
purposes. Fotiadis also mentioned that Jakarta's message was
less optimistic and acknowledged that bringing in foreign
monitors would be difficult because of public opinion.

8. (C) Fotiadis recognized the US's strong commitment to
Indonesia through assistance funds, and highlighted the
importance the EU places on channeling assistance through the
World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF). Fotiadis mentioned
that he raised this issue with A/S Tony Wayne and wanted to
encourage the US get on board with the MDTF, even if the US
only puts a small amount in.
PHILIPPINES: EU SHARES US ASSESSMENT

9. (C) A/S Hill presented his glass "half-empty" view of the
Philippines, highlighting the government's serious governance
and capacity building problems. Corruption has weakened
courts and prison systems and Mindanao has become a real time
nesting ground for terrorists throughout the region. He
acknowledged the EU's programs to step up the rule of law,
reform the police-judicial system, and prevent money
laundering.

10. (C) Lorenz stated that the EU shares our assessment of
the Philippines and the JI. EC Head of Unit for Southeast
Asia Pierre Amilhat said the EU was considering supporting
another regional CT center, but was waiting for ASEAN to
decide where they want to set it up.
BURMA: EU EMPHASIZING ENGAGEMENT WITH REGIME

11. (C) Lorenz highlighted the EU's strategy of increasing
its engagement towards Burma. Lorenz underscored that the EU
wanted to have a dialogue with Burma after Geneva and that an
EU delegation met with Foreign Minister Nyan Win on the
sidelines of the ASEM in Kyoto. The EU handed over a list of
19 political prisoners that it wanted released, including
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and raised the democratic
process, but had not received feedback. Amilhat felt that it
was politically wise to confront the regime directly rather
than not talking to them. Also, by passing on a list of
prisoners that the EU wants released, the EU is establishing
a yardstick by which to measure the regime.

12. (C) Amilhat remarked that the EU always had a policy of
"targeted sanctions" in Burma, and this targeting had been
reinforced in October 2004. Amilhat expressed frustration,
however, that sanctions were nearly irrelevant given China
and India's support for the regime. Also, Amilhat
highlighted that the problem with sanctions is that it
conveys the message that "we want you out", and the EU
believes that there is value in engaging the regime to
deliver the message that "it is part of the problem, but also
part of the solution".

13. (C) In response to a question about whether the US might
pursue greater engagement, A/S Hill stated that Burma had
shown no willingness to engage. He cited a recent
conversation with a Burmese who had graduated from SAIS and
had seemed relatively educated, who had remarked to him that
Aung San Suu Kyi was a "very stubborn woman and if A/S Hill
knew her he would realize why they can't just let her out on
the street". A/S Hill asked how can you engage with that?

14. (C) EC Director for Asia Fokion Fotiadis asked what would
happen if Burma ratifies the constitution by a 99% referendum
(like his home country of Greece)? What is really the
difference between this constitution and those of Vietnam or
Laos? Fotiadis stressed that the real issue is human rights
abuse. We should focus on that rather than the exact form of
the constitution, and not get too involved in the
constitution process. Lorenz further emphasized that we have
to be tolerant of an imperfect democratic process.
EAST ASIA SUMMIT: EU REQUEST OBSERVERSHIP

15. (C) Lorenz noted that the EAS was addressed at the ASEM
in Kyoto and the Malaysia Summit in December and that the EU
delivered its key message that the membership architecture
needs to be inclusive and that Asia should not give the
impression that it is ganging up on the US and the EU. Along
these lines, the EU requested that it should be invited as an
observer. The point was taken and will be discussed at the
meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers at the end of July.

16. (C) A/S Hill responded that he thought the Chinese had
overplayed their hand on EAS and as a result Indonesia,
Singapore and Vietnam have all come out in support of keeping
the US presence in SE Asia. A/S Hill mentioned that he liked
ARF; he realized it wasn't perfect, but it had a pretty good
membership and we wanted to see it work over ASEAN 3. We
just have to be patient since we are dealing with huge
disparities in countries that are much larger than they are
in the OSCE.
CHINA: EU WORRIED ABOUT CHINA'S MERCANTILIST TRADE POLICIES

17. (C) In a separate meeting on May 22 with the European
Commission, Deputy DG for Asia Herve Jouanjean expressed
concern regarding China's economic policies in Latin America,
citing China buying mines in Cuba, steel factories and land
in Brazil, and Columbian President Uribe's April visit to
China. Jouanjean questioned whether these activities were
being conducted within the proper functioning of the market
economy. He noted that the Chinese protect this information
very carefully and proposed that the EU and US work together
to pull and exchange information on China's investments
around the world. NSC Director for Asia Dennis Wilder
responded that the US was also looking into China's
activities in Latin America and would welcome a dialogue with
the EU on this issue.

(U) Cable drafted by Embassy Luxembourg Poloff Julie
Breitfeld; cleared by EAP Front Office.

Schnabel
.