Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ROME83
2008-01-18 16:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
BURMA: FASSINO SAYS EU AND U.S. POSITIONS IN
how-toVZCZCXRO6268 PP RUEHAG RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHROV DE RUEHRO #0083 0181647 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181647Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9695 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY 0752 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 9197 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 2857 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 3007 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 4599 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0844
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).
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
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