DEMARCHE DELIVERED: BURMA'S FLAWED CONSTITUTIONAL

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000349 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN AND EAP/MLS ACOPE. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM CS SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: BURMA'S FLAWED CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM REF: 45471 ¶1. This message contains an action request -- please see paragraph 6. ¶2. Poloff delivered reftel demarche on May 2 to Juan Salas, UN Security Council Desk Officer at the MFA. Salas answered that Costa Rica supports democratic criteria in general and voiced that the situation in Burma involves issues of human rights in addition to ensuring a democratic referendum process. ¶3. (SBU) Salas also commented that Costa Rica is supporting the US draft of a second Presidential Statement. Later in the conversation, however, he qualified his statement of support by saying that Costa Rica is analyzing the draft, that Costa Rica has no problem with its language, and that in general Costa Rica is in agreement with it. ¶4. When asked if Costa Rica would be willing to make a statement in advance of the May 10 referendum, Salas stated that GoCR Ambassador to the UN Jorge Urbina would be the one to make such a statement, which would entail a draft, and that Salas would talk o Foreign Minister Stagno about doing so and woud raise the rest of the talking points further up the MFA chain. ¶5. Salas then asked what China' position is on the referendum. Poloff relayed reftel points (paragraph 9) regarding expressed opposition by Indonesia, Singapore and the Phillipines to the drafting and referendum processes, as well as the point that China, Russia and some ASEAN members are welcoming the referendum as a sign of progress toward reconciliation, however flawed and undemocratic it may be. ¶6. Finally, Salas asked specifically what types of sanctions the US is considering imposing this week. Please advise what our response should be, if any. BRENNAN