BURMA: FASSINO SAYS EU AND U.S. POSITIONS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000083 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018 TAGS: EUN PHUM PREL BM IT SUBJECT: BURMA: FASSINO SAYS EU AND U.S. POSITIONS IN CONCERT REF: COPE EMAIL 1/16/2008 Classified By: A/Pol M/C Jonathan Cohen, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador spoke to EU Special Envoy for Burma Piero Fassino January 17 and delivered ref points on coordinating U.S. and EU approaches to Burma. Fassino, who had met January 17 with EU High Rep Solana, Commission President Barroso, and Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner, and spoken with UN Special Adviser on Burma Gambari, assured the Ambassador that there was very little difference between U.S. and EU policy on Burma and said the EU shared our sense of urgency. Fassino said the regime was stalling and trying to buy itself time, hoping to distract the international community. ¶2. (C) Fassino said the EU believes the regime must free political prisoners; establish a concrete basis for dialogue; include the political opposition and ethnic minorities in the constitutional drafting process; accept the report of UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Paulo Pinheiro; and allow the return of the Red Cross to Burma. If the regime refuses to take those steps, Fassino said, then the international community will need to increase pressure. He added that the EU has not taken tougher sanctions off the table. ¶3. (C) Fassino will travel to Thailand, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Cambodia next week. He has encouraged Gambari to travel to the region soon, and said Gambari will be in India next week or the week after. Fassino said he is open to traveling to Washington or welcoming visitors to Rome to continue a dialogue with the U.S. on charting a way forward on Burma. SPOGLI