GOG RELEASES STATEMENT CONDEMNING AUNG SAN SUU KYI

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001425

SENSITIVE
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AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY
AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF
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AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/08/12
TAGS: PREL PGOV BM GR
SUBJECT: GOG RELEASES STATEMENT CONDEMNING AUNG SAN SUU KYI
CONVICTION, ANTICIPATES SWIFT ENACTMENT OF EU SANCTIONS

REF: 09 STATE 83598

CLASSIFIED BY: Alan Purcell, Acting Political Counselor; REASON:
1.4(B)


1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel points August 12 on the conviction
of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to Ambassador
Dimitrios Anninos, the acting Director of the Asia bureau at the
Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Dimitrios commended
the statements made by President Obama and Secretary Clinton and
estimated that India and China would soon speak out in condemnation
of the Suu Kyi conviction as well. Anninos expressed strong
support for the EU joint statement of August 11th condemning Suu
Kyi's conviction and calling for additional, targeted EU sanctions
against the Burmese junta. Later on August 12, Greek Foreign
Minister Bakoyannis released a statement condemning Suu Kyi's
conviction and house arrest, in the spirit of international
solidarity(full text in paragraph 3).


2. (C) Anninos expressed confidence that EU targeted sanctions
against the ruling Burmese junta and judiciary would be enacted
swiftly and without objection from EU member states. Anninos
shared the details of these sanctions, which were discussed and
agreed upon in advance during a July 30 COREU meeting in Brussels.
They are set to include 1) the addition of members of the ruling
judiciary to the EU visa ban and asset freeze list 2) the freeze of
Burmese state-owned entities currently subject to an investment ban
and 3) additional freezes to supplementary state and
regime-controlled enterprises, such as the Burmese gem and timber
industries.


3. (U) Foreign Minister Bakoyannis released a statement on behalf
of the Greek government, posted in Greek and English on the MFA
website. The English-language text is as follows:

"I express my sadness and deep dismay at Aung San Suu Kyi's new
sentencing. This is a deeply political act, turned against any
notion of rule of law and justice, and has raised international
outcry.

The regime in Burma/Myanmar must immediately and unconditionally
liberate the leader of the opposition and other political
detainees, stop political persecutions, and the country must be led
towards an open, democratic process.

The regime must realize that the international community will not
tolerate this situation."

End text.
SPECKHARD