Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LJUBLJANA127
2008-03-18 15:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:
SLOVENIA AGREES WITH U.S. VIEWS ON BURMA
how-toVZCZCXRO8316 RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHFL RUEHHM RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNH RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLJ #0127 0781514 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 181514Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6538 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0035 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0186
C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000127
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EAP/MLS AARON COPE, IO/UNP PAUL WICKBERG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA AGREES WITH U.S. VIEWS ON BURMA
REFERENDUM; EU STILL DIVIDED ON ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 26677
C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000127
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EAP/MLS AARON COPE, IO/UNP PAUL WICKBERG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA AGREES WITH U.S. VIEWS ON BURMA
REFERENDUM; EU STILL DIVIDED ON ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 26677
1. (SBU) On March 18, Emboff met with Matjaz Marko from the
Asia and Pacific Division at the Slovenian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to deliver reftel talking points urging
Slovenia to make clear to the Burmese regime that the planned
May referendum on the regime's draft constitution should
adhere to international standards. Marko replied that
Slovenia fully agreed with the U.S. that the referendum must
be conducted in a transparent manner and reflect the will of
the Burmese people. When asked whether Slovenia planned to
issue an EU presidency statement to this effect, Marko
responded that the EU had already issued a conclusion on the
proposed referendum at its meeting of the General Affairs and
External Relations Council (GAERC) on February 18. (Note:
The GAERC statement reads, "The Council notes the
authorities' announcement on 9 February of a referendum on a
new Constitution in May 2008 and multi-party elections in
2010. It underlines that only a process that involves the
full participation of the opposition and ethnic groups will
lead to national reconciliation and stability." End note.)
Marko said that Slovenia has no plans at the moment to issue
a separate presidency statement on the referendum, as it
considers the GAERC conclusion to suffice.
2. (C) Marko said that Slovenia, which chairs the EU's
Asia-Oceania Working Party (COASI),is currently focusing
much of the group's efforts on updating the common EU
position on Burma and discussing the possibility of
additional sanctions. He said that updating and prolonging
the EU common position, which expires on April 30, is
progressing nicely and that there are no significant
differences among member states. On the topic of addition
sanctions, however, he noted that there are still significant
differences among member states. He assessed that there
probably would not be much movement on the issue until it is
discussed at the April 28 GAERC meeting.
COLEMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EAP/MLS AARON COPE, IO/UNP PAUL WICKBERG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA AGREES WITH U.S. VIEWS ON BURMA
REFERENDUM; EU STILL DIVIDED ON ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 26677
1. (SBU) On March 18, Emboff met with Matjaz Marko from the
Asia and Pacific Division at the Slovenian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to deliver reftel talking points urging
Slovenia to make clear to the Burmese regime that the planned
May referendum on the regime's draft constitution should
adhere to international standards. Marko replied that
Slovenia fully agreed with the U.S. that the referendum must
be conducted in a transparent manner and reflect the will of
the Burmese people. When asked whether Slovenia planned to
issue an EU presidency statement to this effect, Marko
responded that the EU had already issued a conclusion on the
proposed referendum at its meeting of the General Affairs and
External Relations Council (GAERC) on February 18. (Note:
The GAERC statement reads, "The Council notes the
authorities' announcement on 9 February of a referendum on a
new Constitution in May 2008 and multi-party elections in
2010. It underlines that only a process that involves the
full participation of the opposition and ethnic groups will
lead to national reconciliation and stability." End note.)
Marko said that Slovenia has no plans at the moment to issue
a separate presidency statement on the referendum, as it
considers the GAERC conclusion to suffice.
2. (C) Marko said that Slovenia, which chairs the EU's
Asia-Oceania Working Party (COASI),is currently focusing
much of the group's efforts on updating the common EU
position on Burma and discussing the possibility of
additional sanctions. He said that updating and prolonging
the EU common position, which expires on April 30, is
progressing nicely and that there are no significant
differences among member states. On the topic of addition
sanctions, however, he noted that there are still significant
differences among member states. He assessed that there
probably would not be much movement on the issue until it is
discussed at the April 28 GAERC meeting.
COLEMAN