DENMARK SUPPORTS EU BURMA INITIATIVES

UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000989 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EAP/MLS AND EUR/NB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM CVIS ETRD BM EU DA SUBJECT: DENMARK SUPPORTS EU BURMA INITIATIVES REF: A. STATE 148528 ¶B. STATE 146862 ¶1. (SBU) Post discussed REF A points October 26 with Jonas Parello-Plesner, MFA EU-Coordinator for the Department for Asia and Latin America, and Ditte B. Jensen, MFA Head of Section in the Department for Asia and Latin America. Parello-Plesner noted that Denmark has been a consistent supporter in EU councils of strong pressure on the Burmese regime, and added that Denmark at the most recent GAERC also argued for additional sanctions against Burma's oil and gas industries. Parello-Plesner cautioned, however, that Denmark will not undertake any new Danish initiatives with respect to sanctions against Burma until after Danish parliamentary elections November 13. ¶2. (SBU) As for Burmese representation at ASEAN and other meetings, Parello-Plesner said it was the Danish MFA's impression that the EU is currently more focused on protocolary issues associated with EU representation at the upcoming EU-ASEAN Summit. Parello-Plesner told us the EU is still deciding whether it will be represented by the Troika in Singapore, or whether, as ASEAN would prefer, each EU member state will send a senior government representative. Due to its ongoing election campaign, Denmark would in any case not be represented by a minister at the EU-ASEAN Summit. CAIN