FRANCE SUPPORTS TOUGHER FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004520 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO EAP/MLS FOR AARON COPE AND EEB/TFS FOR KERRY MCCORMACK E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017 TAGS: PGOV ETRD EFIN BM FR SUBJECT: FRANCE SUPPORTS TOUGHER FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON BURMA REF: STATE 155019 Classified By: Pol/MC Josiah Rosenblatt for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) 1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on November 15 to MFA desk officer for Burma, Jeremie Petit. Petit agreed that stronger sanctions are needed to pressure the Burmese regime. He noted the GOF is currently considering ways to "touch the regime's bank accounts." Petit also mentioned a strong French interest in putting Burma back on the G7 Financial Actions Task Force list of non-cooperative countries or territories list (Burma was removed in October 2006) and noted that other EU countries do not hold the same position. Petit remains open to U.S. ideas on how France and the EU might be able to freeze bank accounts of regime officials. ¶2. (C) In a parallel demarche on November 14, Finance Ministry Southeast Asia desk officer Nicolas Prego also highlighted GOF desire to apply pressure on the Burmese regime. He also said there is frustration with the ineffectiveness of measures, particularly in view of insufficient action by ASEAN member states. He asked Econoff what the U.S. position is on the UK proposal to use bolstered humanitarian aid to leverage the Burmese regime. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON