Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON3095
2007-12-06 07:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:  

PORTUGAL: WILLING TO RAISE ADDITIONAL BURMA

Tags:  PHUM PREL PO BU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5036
RR RUEHAG RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHROV
DE RUEHLI #3095 3400756
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 060756Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6472
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0347
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0131
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 003095 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL PO BU
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: WILLING TO RAISE ADDITIONAL BURMA
SANCTIONS

REF: 12/03 DEAN-ENAV EMAIL

Classified By: Classified By: Dep P/E Counselor Cari Enav for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)

This is an action request. Please see para. 2.

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 003095

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL PO BU
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: WILLING TO RAISE ADDITIONAL BURMA
SANCTIONS

REF: 12/03 DEAN-ENAV EMAIL

Classified By: Classified By: Dep P/E Counselor Cari Enav for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)

This is an action request. Please see para. 2.

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Portugal strongly supported the recent tightening of
EU sanctions against Burma and is willing to consider further
"smart" sanctions, including targeting three banks used by
the Burmese government per the USG suggestion. MFA officials
asked the USG to elaborate further on its proposal so that it
could possibly be raised at the December 11 Experts Meeting
on Burmese Sanctions and/or the December 10-11 Foreign
Ministers meeting (GAERC). They also noted that EU officials
raised Burma at the three recent EU-Asia summits in
Singapore, Beijing and New Delhi.

More Sanctions ??
--------------


2. (C) Portugal strongly supported the tightening of EU
sanctions against Burma (approved in October and adopted in
November) and the approval of additional "smart" sanctions
that do not harm Burma's civil society, according to
officials from the MFA's Asia Division. EU foreign ministers
plan to review the initial impact of these measures at the
December 10-11 GAERC meeting in Brussels and discuss possible
investment-related sanctions targeting credit agencies. It
is unclear if the ministers will consider additional
sanctions at this time, but our MFA interlocutors expressed a
willingness to put the USG proposal, targeting three banks
used by the Burmese government, on the table. They asked for
further elaboration before the December 10-11 GAERC and the
December 11 Experts Meeting on Burmese Sanctions. Officials
also suggested a possible second DVC on the issue between
Washington and Brussels.

Burma ) "The Topic" at Recent Asia Summits
--------------


3. (C) Burma was high on the agenda during the three recent
Asia summits ) the November 22 EU-ASEAN Summit in Singapore,
the November 28 EU-China Summit in Beijing, and the November
30 EU-India Summit in New Delhi. In Singapore, EU heads of
government expressed strong concern about developments in
Burma. In addition, EU Special Envoy to Burma Pietro Fassino
held several bilateral meetings on the margins, encouraging
ASEAN members to "confront the black sheep" in their midst,
MFA officials said. In Beijing, EU officials thanked the
Chinese for their positive influence on Burma, helping to
pave the way for UN Special Envoy Gambari's visit as well as
facilitating meetings with the UN Human Rights Envoy and with
Aung San Su Kyi, and encouraged continued engagement. The
message was less favorable in New Delhi where EU leaders
expressed disappointment in India's lack of commitment, as
the world's largest democracy, to press its neighbor on human
rights, according to officials.
Stephenson