CZECHS - APPRECIATE SANCTION DETAILS ON BURMA

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001235 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED SENSITIVE CAPTION) EAP/MLS FOR ACOPE, EUR/NCE FOR ATRATENSEK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ETRD EFIN BM EZ EUN SUBJECT: CZECHS - APPRECIATE SANCTION DETAILS ON BURMA REF: A. STATE 156474 ¶B. STATE 148531 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Officials met with Vaclav Balek, Czech MFA Director of the Department of Common Foreign and Security Policy as well as Karel Korynta (Director) and Adirana Bartova (international department) at the Financial Analytical Unit of the Ministry of Finance, to discuss expanding sanctions against Burma. Balek thanked us for our details regarding expanding sanctions against the regime in Burma, particularly the information that a DVC was scheduled for November 16 among U.S. and EU working-level experts on this issue. He noted that Burma will be discussed at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on November 19, although he did not have a comment on what, if any, action the EU Foreign Ministers might take. 2.(SBU) Korynta and Bartova, who are the officials that implement sanctions once agreement is reached on policy and legislation, or once directives are issued, said that they last heard from the EU in October once the EU decided it would strengthen existing sanctions. Timber and gem mining are two industries specifically targeted. Interestingly, they indicated that there is/was consideration of limiting EU foreign direct investment in Burma. Graber