CZECH RESPONSE ON BURMA DEMARCHE

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000545 SENSITIVE SIPDIS EAP/MLS LAURA SCHEIBE, PRM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV BM EZ EUN SUBJECT: CZECH RESPONSE ON BURMA DEMARCHE REF: STATE 83719 ¶1. (SBU) Czech MFA Burma Desk officer, Hana Flanderova, thanked us for our details on the additional U.S. sanctions outlined in the JADE Act of 2008. She commented that the Czech focus is currently on humanitarian assistance in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. The MFA has already provided 10.6M crowns (just over 700,000 USD),which is being distributed through the International Red Cross, People in Need, Free Burma Rangers and ADRA. September Conference on Asian Pacific Security Challenges -------------- ¶2. (SBU) By no means have the Czechs lost sight of the repression of the Burmese regime. They share our perspective on the value of enhancing sanctions. Within the EU, however, they are not optimistic that much more will be done in the short term, especially given the pressing nature of other issues (such as Georgia) and the fact that Burma is not a French EU Presidency priority. Nevertheless, the Czechs are continuing to highlight the situation in Burma and on September 8-10, the Czech MFA, in conjunction with the Prague Security Studies Institute will host a conference on "Asian Pacific Security Challenges." EU Special Envoy for Burma, Piero Fassino, as well as Baroness Cox of the British House of Lords have been invited. Czech Resettlement of Burmese Refugees -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Flanderova also noted that the Czechs, through the Ministry of Interior, have worked with the UN High Commission for Refugees and this fall, the Czech Republic will grant asylum and resettle 30 Burmese (currently in Malaysia) to the Czech Republic. Considering that the Czechs typically grant asylum to 115 refugees in a year, this represents a substantial commitment on the part of the Czechs. Thompson-Jones