Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LONDON5746
2006-08-07 10:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy London
Cable title:
(C)UK ON BURMA: NO THAI REMORSE FOR VISIT; FINNS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 005746
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/16
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV UN BM UK
SUBJECT: (C)UK ON BURMA: NO THAI REMORSE FOR VISIT; FINNS
NOT BREAKING NEW GROUND
REF: (A) STATE 124139 (B) STATE 127496 (C) STATE 127498
Classified By: Acting Pol Couns Richard Bell for reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 005746
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/16
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV UN BM UK
SUBJECT: (C)UK ON BURMA: NO THAI REMORSE FOR VISIT; FINNS
NOT BREAKING NEW GROUND
REF: (A) STATE 124139 (B) STATE 127496 (C) STATE 127498
Classified By: Acting Pol Couns Richard Bell for reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) We met August 4 with British Foreign Office
officials responsible for Burmese affairs. Head of section
Nick Alexander had seen our demarche (ref a) over concern
that the Finns have invited the Burmese Foreign Minister to
ASEM, as it had been shared by a representative of an
unspecified EU member state. Alexander said the UK, Dutch,
Danes and Australia sought to coordinate their approaches to
Burma. He said HMG represented the "harder end" of EU member
states' thinking on Burma and that the invitation to the
Burmese Foreign Minister was the product of convoluted
negotiations within the EU which took place in Rotterdam this
past January. These allowed for an invitation to a Burmese
Minister with the specific understanding that human rights
issues would be put on the agenda of any such meeting.
Alexander noted that Burma was represented by a Minister at
the 2004 ASEM summit, but the Labor (not Foreign) Minister.
Poloff said that an invitation to a Foreign Minister could be
viewed as an elevation in participation. Alexander agreed
but said HMG's redline was the top echelon of Burmese
government, which did not include the Foreign Minister.
2. (C) The British Ambassador to Thailand had seen the Prime
Minister's deputy coincidentally when news of Thaksin's visit
to Burma broke. The Ambassador had asked the purpose of the
visit; the reply had been that Thaksin was traveling in his
ASEAN capacity and had delivered a message consistent with
it. Alexander said he understood that the Thai Ambassador to
Burma had not been aware of the visit prior to its
occurrence. There had been a meeting of security service
officials from across Asia, and it was there that Burmese
security service officials had issued the invitation which
was quickly accepted. Alexander was of the view that the
Thais were "developing lines" (something close to talking
points) to explain the visit after the fact. We asked if the
British Ambassador had asked whether Thaksin had delivered a
stern message about ASSK. Alexander suggested that the Thai
lines would make this point; he was less than definitive as
to whether the British Ambassador, however, had made a direct
inquiry. Alexander surmised that Thaksin would show no
remorse for the visit and would build more around it to make
it appear as "ASEAN work" to deflect speculation that he went
to make or maintain business links.
3. (C) We mentioned reporting from the like-minded meeting
(ref b). Alexander clarified that there were no plans for
mil-to-mil training emanating from HMG. He and desk officer
Penelope Curtis were interested in how many votes the USG
thinks are now lined up in support of a Security Council
resolution. HMG continues to support a UNSCR on Burma.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Caulfield
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/16
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV UN BM UK
SUBJECT: (C)UK ON BURMA: NO THAI REMORSE FOR VISIT; FINNS
NOT BREAKING NEW GROUND
REF: (A) STATE 124139 (B) STATE 127496 (C) STATE 127498
Classified By: Acting Pol Couns Richard Bell for reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) We met August 4 with British Foreign Office
officials responsible for Burmese affairs. Head of section
Nick Alexander had seen our demarche (ref a) over concern
that the Finns have invited the Burmese Foreign Minister to
ASEM, as it had been shared by a representative of an
unspecified EU member state. Alexander said the UK, Dutch,
Danes and Australia sought to coordinate their approaches to
Burma. He said HMG represented the "harder end" of EU member
states' thinking on Burma and that the invitation to the
Burmese Foreign Minister was the product of convoluted
negotiations within the EU which took place in Rotterdam this
past January. These allowed for an invitation to a Burmese
Minister with the specific understanding that human rights
issues would be put on the agenda of any such meeting.
Alexander noted that Burma was represented by a Minister at
the 2004 ASEM summit, but the Labor (not Foreign) Minister.
Poloff said that an invitation to a Foreign Minister could be
viewed as an elevation in participation. Alexander agreed
but said HMG's redline was the top echelon of Burmese
government, which did not include the Foreign Minister.
2. (C) The British Ambassador to Thailand had seen the Prime
Minister's deputy coincidentally when news of Thaksin's visit
to Burma broke. The Ambassador had asked the purpose of the
visit; the reply had been that Thaksin was traveling in his
ASEAN capacity and had delivered a message consistent with
it. Alexander said he understood that the Thai Ambassador to
Burma had not been aware of the visit prior to its
occurrence. There had been a meeting of security service
officials from across Asia, and it was there that Burmese
security service officials had issued the invitation which
was quickly accepted. Alexander was of the view that the
Thais were "developing lines" (something close to talking
points) to explain the visit after the fact. We asked if the
British Ambassador had asked whether Thaksin had delivered a
stern message about ASSK. Alexander suggested that the Thai
lines would make this point; he was less than definitive as
to whether the British Ambassador, however, had made a direct
inquiry. Alexander surmised that Thaksin would show no
remorse for the visit and would build more around it to make
it appear as "ASEAN work" to deflect speculation that he went
to make or maintain business links.
3. (C) We mentioned reporting from the like-minded meeting
(ref b). Alexander clarified that there were no plans for
mil-to-mil training emanating from HMG. He and desk officer
Penelope Curtis were interested in how many votes the USG
thinks are now lined up in support of a Security Council
resolution. HMG continues to support a UNSCR on Burma.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Caulfield