SLOVENIA SUPPORTS FURTHER PRESSURE ON BURMA BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000033 SIPDIS SIPDIS PASS TO EAP/MLS AARON COPE; EUR/ERA; EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM EPET EUN BM SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA SUPPORTS FURTHER PRESSURE ON BURMA BUT NOTES EU DISTRACTED REF: A. STATE 5276 ¶B. STATE 6700 ¶C. LJUBLJANA 8 Classified By: CDA Maryruth Coleman for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) On January 23, Emboff met with Ambassador Janez Premoze, Chairman of the EU's Asia-Oceania Working Party (COASI),to urge Slovenia and the EU to adopt a ban on the import of gems and hardwood originating in Burma (per reftel A) and to review any plans by Slovenian or EU companies to invest in Burma's energy sector (per reftel B). Ambassador Premoze reiterated points conveyed at Emboff's last demarche on Burma (reftel C),stating that although Slovenia and the EU support maintaining pressure on the Burmese regime, they are currently more focused on issues in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He confirmed, however, that the EU's ban on Burmese gems and hardwood is expected to go into effect in the coming weeks. Premoze repeated his concern that the EU has limited leverage with Rangoon because its trade with Burma pales in comparison with that of ASEAN and other Asian nations that do not see the necessity of levying sanctions against Burma. ¶2. (C) Premoze noted that Slovenia will host a Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) for senior-level officials in Brdo on March 2 - 3. He stated that it is the Presidency intends to propose to Burma to hold an EU - Burma meeting on the margins of the ASEM gathering. Premoze believes that this would be an good opportunity to confront the regime on its lack of progress. ¶3. (C) Premoze again stressed Slovenia's and the EU's strong support for the work of UN Special Advisor on Burma Ibrahim Gambari and EU Special Envoy for Burma Piero Fassino. COLEMAN