SLOVENIAN EU PRESIDENCY CALLING FOR FREE AND FAIR

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000200 SIPDIS EAP/MLS AARON COPE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BM SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIAN EU PRESIDENCY CALLING FOR FREE AND FAIR REFERENDUM IN BURMA REF: STATE 45471 Classified By: CDA Maryruth Coleman for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) On May 5, Emboff met with MFA Asia, Africa, and Pacific Division Third Secretary Matjaz Marko to deliver reftel points urging the GOS to join the US in speaking out against the flawed May 10 referendum in the pre- and post-referendum periods. Marko said the Slovenian EU Presidency had prepared two different demarches--one for the Burmese regime and another for China, India, Australia, Russia, and nine regional capitals to address Burma's flawed referendum. Both demarches call for a transparent, free and fair referendum as stated in the EU's April 29 GAERC conclusions. Marko added that the EU plans to prepare a report based on the demarche responses to be used in next week's Committee on Asia Working Group in Brussels. The Slovenian Presidency is also waiting to receive a report from the French embassy in Rangoon following the May 10 referendum. (France represents Slovenia as the EU Presidency in those countries where Slovenia does not have its own representation). ¶2. (C) Emboff inquired about future measures the EU plans to take should the Burmese regime successfully carry out the flawed referendum. Marko stated that the EU does not have a common position on further measures, and there is currently no position on whether the EU will pursue future measures or not. ¶3. (C) Marko stated the Slovenian Presidency's priority today was to release a statement offering condolences about the cyclone disaster that occurred in Burma over the weekend. He said that the EU offered to send aid to Burma, but because the EU has not yet received a response, the aid offer will not be included in the statement. COLEMAN