IRISH VIEW OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000854 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017 TAGS: EFIN ETRD PGOV PREL ECON EI SUBJECT: IRISH VIEW OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON BURMA REF: STATE 155019 Classified By: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SECTION CHIEF TED PIERCE FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: Ireland supports additional financial sanctions on Burma, provided they do not adversely affect the welfare of the Burmese people, but does not believe that the EU has the stomach for significantly more forceful measures at this time. End summary. ¶2. (C) ECONOFF presented reftel on November 19 to Mr. Conleth Brady, Deputy Director, Asia and Oceania Division, Department of Foreign Affairs. Brady noted that the UK has taken the lead within the EU on the issue of possible sanctions on investments, but suspects that any significant action will be a long way off. He explained that France, in particular, is drawing the line at investment sanctions at the moment as it has significant economic interests in the country, namely through French energy company TOTAL. Brady added that he believed it would take "something more" than what is happening now in Burma for the EU to come to an agreement on stronger measures. ¶3. (C) Brady reported that Ireland supports the consideration of further financial sanctions. However, he stated his opinion that the EU's current sanctions, which were agreed in October, are mainly a political gesture. While they target important areas, he said, they amount to only a small portion of the EU's trade with Burma. As regards the stronger targeted measures Ireland would support, Brady added the caveat that they should not adversely affect the welfare of the population or cause significant hardships such as job losses. Brady added that Ireland believes pressure on Burma should not only be punitive, but also include the possibility of incentives so that the Burmese regime is aware that development assistance or even a free trade agreement is possible if there is significant progress on human rights. ¶4. (C) One of Ireland's main concerns is that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries do not backslide on their willingness to pressure the Burmese regime, according to Brady. He mentioned that at the EU-ASEAN summit this week there will be bilaterals with "like-minded" countries, such as Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia to discuss the issue. Brady added that the situation in Burma also will be a main topic of conversation at the upcoming EU summits with India and China. FOLEY