HUNGARIAN SUPPORT FOR FURTHER SANCTIONS ON BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 001872 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE, EEB/TFS KERRY MCCORMACK AND EUR/NCE MARC NORDBERG E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017 TAGS: PGOV ETRD EFIN HU SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN SUPPORT FOR FURTHER SANCTIONS ON BURMA REF: A) SECSTATE 155019 B) BUDAPEST 1772 Classified By: P/E Counselor Eric Gaudiosi; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Hungarian MFA Asia/Pacific Department Counselor, Laszlo Takacs, provided response to ref A demarche on 19 November. Having recently attended the 46 nation Asia/Europe conference in China (ref B),Takacs commented that Burma was a key discussion topic. He stated that there was a growing consensus among the participants that the situation is "unacceptable and untenable," and the international community must keep pressure on the Burmese government. Takacs believes that the Burmese government can be influenced by outside "pressure," noting they often take small cooperative steps, such as the seven-point "way ahead" plan, although that plan "lacks definite timelines." ¶2. (C) While supportive of sanctions on Burma, Takacs commented that "more than additive sanctions, the EU needs a longer term road map to deal with the Burmese situation." He stated Hungary will work within the EU framework to build consensus on the issue, stressing again the importance of maintaining pressure on the current Burmese government. Takacs also noted that Hungary, through the Budapest International Center for Democratic Transition, contemplates reaching out to Burmese opposition groups to provided "training" related to Hungary's own experiences with such a transition. He explained that they have already made contact with several such groups and contemplate training activities in several countries neighboring Burma. FOLEY