Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BUDAPEST468
2008-05-07 06:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON BURMA'S UPCOMING REFERENDUM
how-toVZCZCXRO7030 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHUP #0468 1280644 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 070644Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2904 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0038 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0106 RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 0018 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0093
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000468
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE MARC NORDBERG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON BURMA'S UPCOMING REFERENDUM
REF: SECSTATE 45471
Classified By: DCM Jeffrey Levine, reasons 1.4 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000468
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE MARC NORDBERG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON BURMA'S UPCOMING REFERENDUM
REF: SECSTATE 45471
Classified By: DCM Jeffrey Levine, reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) PolOff discussed reftel with the MFA Asia/Pacific
Department Head Gyula Petho on May 6. Petho acknowledged and
expressed agreement with reftel's concerns about referendum's
legitimacy, drawing reference to both the EU and UNSC
statements on the issue. He believes the referendum will
proceed despite the human loss and damage caused by the
recent cyclone, commenting that voting has already occurred
at Burmese Embassies and military bases. Petho noted that
the Burmese Government appears to be holding back the
military from large scale support to cyclone victims - in
Petho's view a mistake because such assistance would have
been a positive message to citizens. He stated that the
Burmese Government most likely sees the recent cyclone as a
"God-send," shifting focus to the humanitarian assistance
coming from the International Community. (Note: Petho
stated that the Hungarian Government may be able to provide
some financial assistance through two primary international
NGOs - Hungarian Baptist Aid and the Hungarian Interchurch
Aid. The Debrecen medical team that responded to the 2005
tsunami has also contacted the MFA offering their assistance.
End note.)
2. (C) Petho also shared his views on the mid-April trip with
MFA State Secretary Laszlo Varkonyi to Malaysia and Thailand
where they met with senior-level host country officials. In
both countries, hosts expressed the view that the May 10
referendum is a "positive" step, but the scheduled Burmese
elections in 2010 are more important. Petho noted, in
particular with Thailand, that relative calm in Burma was
very important for trade and security reasons. Continuing,
he stated that interlocutors in both countries shared a
common view - also held by the majority of ASEAN members -
that the key players on the Burma question are India and
China. Both the Thai and Malay officials stated that India
will be very cautious with Burmese sanctions, in particular
as to their impact on security and trade issues. They stated
that China would fill any vacuum created by a reduced Indian
presence in Burma.
Foley
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE MARC NORDBERG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON BURMA'S UPCOMING REFERENDUM
REF: SECSTATE 45471
Classified By: DCM Jeffrey Levine, reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) PolOff discussed reftel with the MFA Asia/Pacific
Department Head Gyula Petho on May 6. Petho acknowledged and
expressed agreement with reftel's concerns about referendum's
legitimacy, drawing reference to both the EU and UNSC
statements on the issue. He believes the referendum will
proceed despite the human loss and damage caused by the
recent cyclone, commenting that voting has already occurred
at Burmese Embassies and military bases. Petho noted that
the Burmese Government appears to be holding back the
military from large scale support to cyclone victims - in
Petho's view a mistake because such assistance would have
been a positive message to citizens. He stated that the
Burmese Government most likely sees the recent cyclone as a
"God-send," shifting focus to the humanitarian assistance
coming from the International Community. (Note: Petho
stated that the Hungarian Government may be able to provide
some financial assistance through two primary international
NGOs - Hungarian Baptist Aid and the Hungarian Interchurch
Aid. The Debrecen medical team that responded to the 2005
tsunami has also contacted the MFA offering their assistance.
End note.)
2. (C) Petho also shared his views on the mid-April trip with
MFA State Secretary Laszlo Varkonyi to Malaysia and Thailand
where they met with senior-level host country officials. In
both countries, hosts expressed the view that the May 10
referendum is a "positive" step, but the scheduled Burmese
elections in 2010 are more important. Petho noted, in
particular with Thailand, that relative calm in Burma was
very important for trade and security reasons. Continuing,
he stated that interlocutors in both countries shared a
common view - also held by the majority of ASEAN members -
that the key players on the Burma question are India and
China. Both the Thai and Malay officials stated that India
will be very cautious with Burmese sanctions, in particular
as to their impact on security and trade issues. They stated
that China would fill any vacuum created by a reduced Indian
presence in Burma.
Foley