FINLAND ON BURMA'S FLAWED REFERENDUM AND BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000206 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS/ACOPE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM FI SUBJECT: FINLAND ON BURMA'S FLAWED REFERENDUM AND BURMA REF: STATE 45471 Classified By: Pol Officer Lisa Conesa for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Johan Schalin, Director of the Finnish MFA's Asia and Oceania Office and Theresa Zitting, First Secretary on May 5. They said Finland expects Burma to hold and pass the referendum, albeit probably not May 10 in the face of the disaster caused by the cyclone. GoF does not welcome these results. Their statement will be in coordination with the EU. GoF hopes to emphasize humanitarian efforts. Schalin stated that GoF currently accepts one-third of their UN refugee quota from Burma. ¶2. (C) Schalin specifically noted that they support the UN's work and special envoy. They believe the UN is the only organization that could dialogue and strategically involve the Burmese opposition to change the process and the regime's seven-step "roadmap to democracy" that the Burmese are determined to follow. Burmese activists in Finland will host a conference June 6-7 in Helsinki including activists, politicians and civil society from inside and outside Burma. The GoF expects conference participation from inside Burma based on Visa inquiries. BARRETT