MENON ATTEMPTS TO DRAW OUT BURMESE REGIME DURING

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 000456 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM IN SUBJECT: MENON ATTEMPTS TO DRAW OUT BURMESE REGIME DURING VISIT REF: NEW DELHI 430 Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B and D) ¶1. (C) In a February 11 meeting with Ambassador Mulford, Indian Foreign Secretary Menon reported that his February 8-10 visit to Burma made some progress. Regarding UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari, Menon related that the Burmese regime would likely meet with Gambari in a third country. However, Menon continued, the regime believes that Gambari's good offices do not include "mediation between the regime and Aung San Suu Kyi or political processes within Burma." Menon also conveyed that the Foreign Secretary told him the regime will soon start a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK). ¶2. (C) Menon said that he told his Burmese counterparts that the constitutional timetable to 2010 was "not credible." He noted that he encouraged them to engage in "broad consultations" that go beyond ASSK, particularly with ethnic groups. But, Menon opined, unless the Constitution Drafting Committee engages in a dialogue with these groups, it will produce a document that only suits the regime. ¶3. (C) Comment: Menon's trip to Burma follows Gambari's January 31 sojourn to Delhi, which, in conjunction with the January visit by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has put pressure on India to attempt to influence the Burmese regime. Given that one specific request Gambari left Menon (see reftel) was to help arrange a meeting with the GOB, even in a third country, the Foreign Secretary will be able to claim delivery if the Burmese regime follows through on its offer. However, Menon's efforts notwithstanding, India will continue to balance expressions of concern about the human rights situation and lack of democracy with its stated national security interests in fighting terrorists in the northeast, having access to Burmese natural resources, and balancing China's presence in the region. WHITE