Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DUBLIN150
2008-03-20 16:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:  

IRELAND RESPONSE TO BURMA DEMARCHE

Tags:  PGOV PHUM EI BM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0601
RR RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHDL #0150 0801604
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 201604Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9001
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000150 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO EAP/MLS AARON COPE AND IO/UNP PAUL WICKBERG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EI BM
SUBJECT: IRELAND RESPONSE TO BURMA DEMARCHE

REF: SECSTATE 26677

Classified By: Political/Economic Section Chief Theodore S. Pierce; rea
sons 1.4 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000150

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO EAP/MLS AARON COPE AND IO/UNP PAUL WICKBERG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EI BM
SUBJECT: IRELAND RESPONSE TO BURMA DEMARCHE

REF: SECSTATE 26677

Classified By: Political/Economic Section Chief Theodore S. Pierce; rea
sons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Ireland believes that renewing the EU's Common
Position on Burma, due in April, and a strong response from
the upcoming GAERC, will be the most effective ways to
publicly highlight the flaws in Burma's proposed constitution
and referendum, according to Conleth Brady, Deputy Director,
Asia and Oceania, Department of Foreign Affairs, to whom
POLOFF delivered the reftel demarche on March 20. Ireland is
also interested in placing further sanctions on Burma at an
EU level, although Brady noted that France has been resistant
to any sanctions that would interfere with its trade with
Burma. Ireland's own limited trade with Burma makes
bi-lateral sanctions ineffective, he added.


2. (C) The "roadmap to democracy" and the proposed
constitution are both flawed, Brady said, but since they are
the only "show in town" it is necessary to try to make them
work. The EU is discussing the possibility of using monitors
from ASEAN member states to monitor the constitutional
referendum vote, he added, but this will work only if the
monitors follow the UN standards for monitoring and Burma's
democratic and ethnic minority representatives are allowed to
participate. Given the poor reception UN Special Advisor
Gambari received in Burma, Brady suggested that a stronger UN
stance and perhaps a visit from Secretary-General Bi-moon may
be needed to get Burma to take the UN's position seriously.

3 (U) Although Ireland does not speak directly with the
Burmese government, Brady said, the Irish regularly discuss
the situation in Burma with the Chinese, and through the
Irish Ambassador to Singapore, with several ASEAN members.
Burma is the only Asian country specifically named in the
DFA's planning document, he added, highlighting the
importance that the Irish place on the situation there.
FAUCHER