SLOVAKIA HAS NO REASON NOT TO BE TOUGH ON BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000125

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EAP/MLS AARON COPE AND IO/UNP PAUL WICKBERG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA HAS NO REASON NOT TO BE TOUGH ON BURMA

REF: SECSTATE 26677

Classified By: DCM Lawrence Silverman for reasons: 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (U) POLOFF delivered Reftel message to Drahomir Stos, Head
of the Asia Unit at Slovakia's MFA, on March 18. Stos agreed
with the U.S. message in its entirety and said Slovakia will
absolutely lend its support, both publicly and privately, to
UN Special Advisor Gambari.


2. (C) Stos explained that Slovakia does not have any
commercial or cultural ties to Burma and that this is a
purely political issue. Slovakia, along with its EU partners
and other allies, would take a tough line on the Burmese
regime. Stos explained that China supports the regime for
mainly commercial reasons, and India supports the regime
because they fear the crisis that would surely develop if a
less autocratic regime replaced the existing one. Stos went
on to describe Burma as "another Afghanistan" and "part of
the world's inheritance from the British Empire." Stos
estimated there are 90 or more national minorities in Burma
that would quickly turn against each other if Western-style
democracy were introduced tomorrow. This, he said, is why the
need for "national reconciliation" is always highlighted in
Western statements on Burma.
OBSITNIK