Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS425
2008-03-20 12:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
DEMARCHE ON REFERENDUM IN BURMA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #0425 0801237 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 201237Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7170
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000425
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM BE
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON REFERENDUM IN BURMA
REF: STATE 26677
Classified By: POLCOUNS LYNN GURIAN. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
(C) PolCouns discussed reftel points March 20 with Renier
Nijskens, MFA Director for South and West Asia and the
Pacific. Ambassador Nijskens commented the Belgians are
together with the U.S. on the points. He added the Burmese
government is "taking us for a ride" and they "do not
appreciate the leeway we have given them." Nijskens thinks
the proposed constitutional changes will serve to
institutionalize current government policies. The GoB is in
favor of additional sanctions, such as one on financial
transactions, but they want to consult the sectors involved
to make certain such sanctions are workable before they
approve them. He noted it took six months for the first list
of sanctions to go into effect and commented that it took too
long to start.
FOX
.
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM BE
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON REFERENDUM IN BURMA
REF: STATE 26677
Classified By: POLCOUNS LYNN GURIAN. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
(C) PolCouns discussed reftel points March 20 with Renier
Nijskens, MFA Director for South and West Asia and the
Pacific. Ambassador Nijskens commented the Belgians are
together with the U.S. on the points. He added the Burmese
government is "taking us for a ride" and they "do not
appreciate the leeway we have given them." Nijskens thinks
the proposed constitutional changes will serve to
institutionalize current government policies. The GoB is in
favor of additional sanctions, such as one on financial
transactions, but they want to consult the sectors involved
to make certain such sanctions are workable before they
approve them. He noted it took six months for the first list
of sanctions to go into effect and commented that it took too
long to start.
FOX
.