Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS3194
2007-10-19 15:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DISCUSSES SOUTHEAST ASIA ISSUES

Tags:  PREL EUN XB 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4427
PP RUEHAG RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHROV
DE RUEHBS #3194/01 2921507
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 191507Z OCT 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 003194 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017
TAGS: PREL EUN XB
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN COMMISSION DISCUSSES SOUTHEAST ASIA ISSUES


Classified By: A/Political Chief Vincent Carver for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 003194

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017
TAGS: PREL EUN XB
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN COMMISSION DISCUSSES SOUTHEAST ASIA ISSUES


Classified By: A/Political Chief Vincent Carver for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: According to our contacts in the European
Commission (EC),the EC's top priorities on Burma are to keep
attention and pressure focused on the regime and to continue
to press ASEAN for meaningful engagement. In the Philippines,
the EU is considering options for providing technical
assistance to the Qvernment on extrajudicial killings and
continues to watch for progress on the peace process in
Mindanao. The EC has abandoned its plans for an election
monitoring mission in Thailand, and is exploring ways to
support judicial reform and progress on rule of law issues in
southern Thailand. END SUMMARY.

--------------
Burma
--------------


2. (C/NF) We discussed a range of issues with Commission SE
Asia Unit Head Seamus Gillespie and Andreas List, Daniele Dal
Molin, and Thomas Gnocchi, EC Principal Administrators for
Burma, the Philippines and Thailand, respectively (please
protect). EC officials said that the EU's top priorities on
Burma are to keep attention focused on the Burmese regime and
to maintain pressure on the ASEAN members and other regional
actors. The danger, said List, is that in five years, the
international community will simply refer to this period as
the "unrest of 2007," much as we currently refer to the
events of 1988 without having seized any opportunities. List
expressed the view, shared by some of our Council Secretariat
contacts, that while sanctions were important, it will be
necessary to devise a longer-term plan that takes advantage
of the level of international attention generated by the
regime's crackdown. The EU is currently considering how to
move forward constructively, specifically in terms of
leveraging upcoming summit meetings with ASEAN, China, and
India. Gillespie noted that some member states would be
hesitant to take more strict measures involving Burma's
regional neighbors, such as targeting international banking
links, but this could be the only meaningful way of exerting
real pressure on the regime.


3. (C/NF) After EU Ministers issued October GAERC conclusions

that some officials and commentators viewed as somewhat weak,
member states are reportedly beginning to recognize the
incoherence of EU initiatives that range from sanctions and
disengagement to visits and proposed envoys. The Gambari and
UN tracks seem to be the most effective options in the near
term, according to EC interlocutors, and the EC would welcome
U.S. views on how to support UN envoy Gambari's engagement
and keep the UN process on track.

--------------
Philippines
--------------


4. (C) Gillespie and Dal Molin explained that the EU is
currently examining ways to provide support to assist the
Philippines in dealing with the problem of unlawful killings.
Member states have reacted favorably to a recent joint
EC-Council report outlining potential technical assistance
options in areas of investigation, prosecution, witness
protection, judges, and civil and human rights organizations.
Concern remains, however, that any such assistance would
provide only limited benefit without progress being made on
what Gillespie described as "endemic structural problems." An
EU needs assessment team that visited the Philippines earlier
this year cited lack of coordination and shifting
accountability among law enforcement, absence of solid
forensic evidence procedures, weak witness protection, and a
general malaise among civil society as hurdles in the way of
sustainable progress. Recognizing these issues affect the
most sensitive issues of national sovereignty, Gillespie said
that the EU is trying to devise a way to engage delicately
with the government to deal with these structural weaknesses
to ensure thQ any more specific technical assistance has a
meaningful and sustainable impact. EC officials expressed a
desire to continue cooperation with the U.S. on this issue
and would be open to advice on how to further engage the
local authorities as they launch their programs.


5. (SBU) Briefly turning to Mindanao, Dal Molin noted that
the EU continues to follow the peace process with interest,
and has pledged 12 million Euros to the international trust
fund. Member states would be willing to step up their
assistance when they see clear progress toward a peace
agreement.

BRUSSELS 00003194 002 OF 002



--------------
Thailand
--------------


6. (C) Gillespie said that the EC was concerned that the
current challenges in Thailand could be enhanced during the
election season, and remained worried that the rise in
nationalist sentiment following the coup could prove to be a
long-term trend. Officials noted that the EU abandoned its
efforts to send an election monitoring mission to Thailand
after the GOT refused to sign an MOU for the mission.
Gillespie and Gnocchi said that the situation was
unfortunately blown out of proportion, and the idea was
conceived to provide validation that the country was back on
track in the probable case of a fair election. Gillespie
added that the Commission was treading a fine line with
member states who were divided on the EU's level of
involvement, with many of them opposed to treating Thailand
in the same way as Laos or Cambodia, for instance.


7. (C) The Commission has also been engaging with Thai
authorities on security programs for southern Thailand.
Initial contacts with the Ministries of Justice and Education
as well as with the Royal Thai Police were positive, said
Gnocchi, but in a move the EC sees as an attempt to delay
progress, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has insisted that
future communication from the EU be channeled through the
MFA. Recognizing that the Thai government was unenthusiastic
about outside actors in the south, the EC thus shifted its
focus to non-state actors and is working on small programs
with NGOs and academic institutions to support judicial
reform and informed debate on the future of southern
Thailand. They are examining options to do further training
in Bangkok as well as considering working with other local
partners.

--------------
ASEAN and other actors
--------------


8. (C) Gillespie noted that CommissioQs also preparing for
the EU's November 22 summit with ASEAN. The two organizations
are currently working on the joint action plan language which
will focus on trade, cultural cooperation, and immigration.
The Burma issue remains the wild card for the summit, but
viewed positively, Burmese attendance could provide an
opportunity for the EU to exert collective pressure on the
regime. Gillespie added that the EU is watching the
development of the ASEAN charter with interest. The EC
perceives the fate of the charter as a litmus test for the
integration project and fears that if momentum on the common
market is not seized now, the project will fail.


9. (SBU) Rounding out the discussion, the EC officials also
briefly mentioned that they are interested in Indonesia's
future prospects, particularly within ASEAN and the region
more broadly. Given the EU's involvement in Aceh, they also
monitor the peace process closely and are somewhat concerned,
said List, about the government's weakness and lack of
economic incentives as potentially damaging the
sustainability of peace. He added, however that EC is
looking for ways to emphasize Indonesia as a model for
inter-religious and multi-cultural dialogue and cooperation
in Europe and beyond.

--------------
Comment
--------------


10. (C/NF) The EU's focus SE on Asia historically has been
limited, but the Asian financial crisis, tsunami, and
political crises in the region since 2000 have spurred
increased involvement and attention among EU members.
Commission officials also credit U.S. and Australian pressure
to become more engaged in the region with this recent uptick
in activity and interest. Because EU member states have
relatively minimal representation in the region, much of the
initiative for projects falls to the Commission, and the EC
in turn many times looks for our expertise and cooperation on
common challenges and goals. We see opportunities to provide
input to help shape the EC's own agenda in the upcoming
months, particularly on a coordinated course of action on
Burma and targeted technical assistance in the Philippines.

GRAY
.