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