LATVIA SUPPORTS FURTHER SANCTIONS ON BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000849 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS (AARON COPE) AND EEB/TFS (KERRY MCCORMACK) E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM EFIN ETRD BM LG SUBJECT: LATVIA SUPPORTS FURTHER SANCTIONS ON BURMA REF: STATE 155019 Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey for Reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points November 13 to Signe Jansone, the A/S level official that covers Asia at the MFA. Jansone responded that the GOL continues to deplore the lack of human rights in Burma: "the people have no basic human rights or education." She noted that the EU has been doing a lot on Burma recently. When asked whether the GOL would support an EU ban on the export of financial services to Burma (in general and at the upcoming November 19-20 GAERC meeting),Jansone responded, "I don't see any obstacle why not. We have supported stronger sanctions before." Jansone expressed appreciation for the reftel information regarding the November 16 digital video conference between sanctions experts at State, Treasury and the European Commission to discuss Burma sanctions--noting that this DVC "was a very good idea." BAILEY