Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MANILA2014
2005-05-03 06:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manila
Cable title:  

PHILIPPINES EXPECT BURMA TO RELINQUISH ASEAN CHAIR

Tags:  PREL BM RP ASEAN 
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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 MANILA 002014 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/PMBS, EAP/BCLTV, EAP/RSP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2015
TAGS: PREL BM RP ASEAN
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES EXPECT BURMA TO RELINQUISH ASEAN CHAIR

REF: MANILA 1737

Classified By: Pol/C Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 002014

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/PMBS, EAP/BCLTV, EAP/RSP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2015
TAGS: PREL BM RP ASEAN
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES EXPECT BURMA TO RELINQUISH ASEAN CHAIR

REF: MANILA 1737

Classified By: Pol/C Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) In meeting with Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo on
May 2, Ambassador urged the GRP -- and Romulo, personally --
to continue to work within ASEAN to push Burma toward
democratic change and release of Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as
other key roadmap goals, as Romulo had done at the ASEAN
Foreign Ministers' retreat in Cebu (reftel). Romulo noted
that, for the Philippines in particular, the issue was far
greater than whether Burma would or would not relinquish the
chairmanship of ASEAN after Malaysia, but instead how best to
ensure that Burma stuck to a real timeline for the roadmap,
including permission for the UN Secretary General's special
envoy to visit soon. He said he was content to let other
Foreign Ministers agitate about the chairmanship issue
itself, in part due to concern that others would see the GRP
as trying to grab the chairmanship for itself (as next in
alphabetical order). He noted Philippine Congressional and
Senate resolutions against Burma's chairmanship as well as
strong editorial comment in the Philippine media, and
indicated that he had shared these views with his ASEAN
counterparts. He indicated that he believed that Burma
would, in the end, decide to relinquish the chair.
Separately, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for Policy
Sonia Brady (a former Ambassador to Burma and Thailand) noted
that the GRP was ready to assume the chairmanship in 2007, as
needed. She added that there was no consideration of
Malaysia extending its chairmanship for a second year, but
pointed to the precedent of sorts of Vietnam, which early in
its ASEAN membership had deferred its turn as chairman.


2. (C) Ambassador underscored that major USG goals
worldwide were the spread of freedom and the expansion of the
circle of democracies, and expressed appreciation for what
the GRP was doing in this regard already. Romulo noted that
the ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting in Japan May 6-7 would
provide another opportunity for discussion on Burma, which
would also be sending a representative.


3. (C) Comment: Department may wish to provide Embassies
in ASEM member capitals an update on US views on Burma in
advance of this meeting to share with their counterparts.
Ricciardone