SLOVENIA HESITANT ON BURMA SANCTIONS, BUT WILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000561 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018 TAGS: ECON EFIN PGOV PREL BM SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA HESITANT ON BURMA SANCTIONS, BUT WILL FOLLOW EU CONSENSUS REF: SECSTATE 125635 Classified By: CDA Brad Freden, reasons 1.4(b,d) (C) On December 23, Emboff met with Matjaz Marko, COASI Assistant at the Slovenian MFA, to discuss sanctions on Burma, per reftel. Marko explained that two camps are developing within the EU on the topic. The UK, primarily supported by the Nordic countries, favors strengthening sanctions against Burma. Germany leads the second, "more conservative" faction, nominally supported by France (although Marko suggested that France will attempt to stay neutral while they hold the EU presidency.) According to Marko, Germany wants to see results from the existing sanctions before changing anything. Marko said that while Slovenia held the EU presidency, they stayed strictly neutral on the topic, but now slightly favor the German argument. He indicated support for increasing pressure on "key players" in the region (he named India, China, Philippines and Indonesia.) Additionally, Slovenia wants to focus on humanitarian activities in Burma, and "viewed as a good experience" the UN/ASEAN/Burma cooperation for disaster relief after Cyclone Nargis. Slovenia has high hopes for the upcoming summit in March with Ban Ki Moon. Marko indicated that Slovenia will attentively listen to all arguments regarding sanctions on Burma and could be swayed, but that in the end, they will definitely join the EU consensus. FREDEN