Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SINGAPORE103
2008-01-25 09:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
BURMA - BANNING IMPORTS OF GEMS AND HARDWOODS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHGP #0103 0250927 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 250927Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4796 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2734 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2105 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1954 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0374 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0299 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4191 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5850 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1423 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 6343 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 6429 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0172
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000103
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD PHUM ETTC SN BM
SUBJECT: BURMA - BANNING IMPORTS OF GEMS AND HARDWOODS
REF: A. STATE 5276
B. SINGAPORE 67
Classified By: Econ/Pol Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000103
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD PHUM ETTC SN BM
SUBJECT: BURMA - BANNING IMPORTS OF GEMS AND HARDWOODS
REF: A. STATE 5276
B. SINGAPORE 67
Classified By: Econ/Pol Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) MFA Director for Southeast Asia Peter Tan reiterated
Singapore's position that it opposes sanctions against Burma,
in response to ref A demarche we delivered on January 25. He
said he would pass our points to his superiors, but indicated
Singapore would not adopt an import ban on Burmese gems and
hardwoods. ASEAN has concluded that there is little else it
can do as an organization to push Burma in a positive
direction after its efforts failed during the ASEAN Summit in
Singapore last November. UN Special Envoy Gambari's ongoing
effort to engage the Burmese regime remains our best hope,
Director Tan asserted. Burma does not want ASEAN involved,
so we will "leave it" to Gambari.
2. (C) Econ/Pol Chief argued that, even if ASEAN faces
constraints on its collective actions, individual countries
need to keep the pressure on Burma. The regime may be
recalcitrant, but efforts such as targeted financial
sanctions recently imposed by the United States are affecting
the junta's ability to maneuver and send a strong signal of
international disapproval, he said. Director Tan responded
that sanctions will have limited impact without the support
of larger regional players like China, India, and Japan.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD PHUM ETTC SN BM
SUBJECT: BURMA - BANNING IMPORTS OF GEMS AND HARDWOODS
REF: A. STATE 5276
B. SINGAPORE 67
Classified By: Econ/Pol Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) MFA Director for Southeast Asia Peter Tan reiterated
Singapore's position that it opposes sanctions against Burma,
in response to ref A demarche we delivered on January 25. He
said he would pass our points to his superiors, but indicated
Singapore would not adopt an import ban on Burmese gems and
hardwoods. ASEAN has concluded that there is little else it
can do as an organization to push Burma in a positive
direction after its efforts failed during the ASEAN Summit in
Singapore last November. UN Special Envoy Gambari's ongoing
effort to engage the Burmese regime remains our best hope,
Director Tan asserted. Burma does not want ASEAN involved,
so we will "leave it" to Gambari.
2. (C) Econ/Pol Chief argued that, even if ASEAN faces
constraints on its collective actions, individual countries
need to keep the pressure on Burma. The regime may be
recalcitrant, but efforts such as targeted financial
sanctions recently imposed by the United States are affecting
the junta's ability to maneuver and send a strong signal of
international disapproval, he said. Director Tan responded
that sanctions will have limited impact without the support
of larger regional players like China, India, and Japan.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD