FINLAND: ENCOURAGING SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000776 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS/AARON COPE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM FI SUBJECT: FINLAND: ENCOURAGING SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IN BURMA REF: STATE 142626 ¶1. (SBU) PolChief delivered subject demarche to Johanna Suurpaa, Director of the Finnish MFA's Unit for Human Rights Policy Oct. 11. Finland has actively pressed within the EU for strengthened sanctions and has called for the EU to seek new sectors in which sanctions might appropriately be applied, Suurpaa said. She noted, for example, that the ruby trade out of Burma is particularly problematic and that Finland may join other EU countries in pressing for concerted sanctions on gem stone exports that benefit the regime. ¶2. (SBU) Suurpaa said that Finland maintains no significant bilateral aid programs in Burma. WARE