CANADA ENCOURAGING COUNTRIES TO BAN BURMESE IMPORTS

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000106 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ETRD PHUM BM CA SUBJECT: CANADA ENCOURAGING COUNTRIES TO BAN BURMESE IMPORTS REF: STATE 5276 ¶1. (SBU) Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Deputy Director for the Southeast Asia and Pacific Division Evelyne Coulombe told PolOff that Canada is taking every opportunity to encourage other governments to impose import bans on Burma. Coulombe said that the DFAIT Southeast Asia and Pacific Division director consistently emphasizes the need to exert greater pressure on Burma during meetings with foreign government officials, and noted that Canada is continuing to pressure ASEAN to take a tougher stance on Burma. ¶2. (U) Canada imposed its own set of economic sanctions against Burma in December 2007. The measures, subject to certain exceptions, include: -- A ban on all goods (except humanitarian goods) exported from Canada to Burma -- A ban on all goods imported from Burma into Canada -- A freeze on assets in Canada of any designated Burmese nationals connected with the Burmese state -- A prohibition on the provision of Canadian financial services to and from Burma -- A prohibition on the export of any technical data to Burma -- A ban on new investment in Burma by Canadian persons and companies -- A prohibition on Canadian registered ships or aircraft from docking or landing in Burma -- A prohibition on Burmese registered ships or aircraft from docking or landing in Canada and passing through Canada Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS