ASEAN TO EU: "NO BURMA, NO ASEAN"

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001059

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2015
TAGS: PREL BM NL
SUBJECT: ASEAN TO EU: "NO BURMA, NO ASEAN"


Classified By: P/E Chief W. Patrick Murphy for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: In a show of unity, ASEAN countries have
agreed to pull out of a September 16-17 ASEM Economic
Ministerial Meeting. This follows a decision by the Dutch
government, in accordance with the EU's Common Position on
Burma, to deny a visa to the senior Burmese delegate.
According to Rangoon-based EU and Japanese diplomats, the
ASEAN boycott has scuttled the entire Ministerial. ASEAN's
willingness to support Burma's inclusion in ASEM no doubt
brings satisfaction to the ruling generals. End Summary.


2. (SBU) According to diplomatic sources in Rangoon, the
Dutch government denied a visa to Soe Tha, Burmese Minister
of National Planning and Economic Development, to attend the
sixth Asia-Europe (ASEM) Economic Ministerial Meeting,
scheduled to take place in Rotterdam on September 16-17.


3. (C) Japanese Embassy officers told us that ASEAN Foreign
Ministers met in New York this week on the margins of the
UNGA to discuss the visa development and agreed that all ten
ASEAN countries would refuse to attend the Rotterdam meeting,
apparently scuttling the entire Ministerial. The Japanese
officers said that the GOJ was deeply concerned the Dutch had
made a bilateral decision on an issue that had significant
implications for relations between Asia and Europe. British
and French diplomats, however, have told us that the Dutch
decision was squarely in line with the EU Common Position on
Burma, which includes a ban on visas for senior regime
officials.


4. (C) Comment: It has been a tough week in New York for
Burma and its Foreign Minister. Secretary Rice and UNSYG
Kofi Annan both singled out Burma in their respective
meetings with ASEAN leaders, citing the regime's serious
shortcomings with regard to political and human rights
reforms. Thus, ASEAN's collective decision to rally in
response to the EU visa decision allows FM Nyan Win to return
to Rangoon with news that will no doubt bring some
satisfaction to the ruling generals. The EU decision,
however, does highlight the regime's lack of legitimacy with
the broader international community. End Comment.
Villarosa