BULGARIA: DELIVERED DEMARCHE ON EXPANDED U.S.

UNCLAS SOFIA 000546 SIPDIS EAP/MLS FOR LSCHEIBE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ETRD BM AA BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA: DELIVERED DEMARCHE ON EXPANDED U.S. SANCTIONS IN BURMA REF: STATE 83719 Political Officer delivered REFTEL points to MFA Asia, Australia, and Oceania Directorate Junior Expert Nikolova Konova on August 8, 2008. Ms. Konova stated that Bulgaria has adopted all EU sanctions and fully observes its current sanctions against Burma. She noted that Bulgaria is watching with interest to see whether Burma,s signing of the new ASEAN charter will impact its human rights performance. She anticipates that the EU will maintain its sanctions against Burma and that Bulgaria will continue to remain fully in line with this policy until common concerns regarding the constitutional referendum, the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, and the imprisonment and detention of peaceful political activists are resolved. She ended by reiterating that Bulgaria shares the concerns of the U.S. and EU for victims of Cyclone Nargis and recently contributed 50,000 Euros toward humanitarian relief. Karagiannis