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