BURMA POLICY REVIEW DEMARCHE RESPONSE: GREEKS ON SAME SIDE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001517 SIPDIS AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL LEIPZIG AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/29 TAGS: PGOV PREL GR BM SUBJECT: BURMA POLICY REVIEW DEMARCHE RESPONSE: GREEKS ON SAME SIDE, SAME GOALS REF: STATE 100518 CLASSIFIED BY: Alan Purcell, Deputy Political Counselor, State, POL; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) (C) Post delivered reftel points, previewing the conclusions of the U.S. Burma Policy Review, to Christos Chatzopoulos of the Greek MFA A10 Directorate for Asian Affairs, on September 29. Mr. Chatzopoulos assured us that Greek views towards Burma are in sync with our own. Mr. Chatzopoulos welcomed the new USG direct dialogue approach and stated that he hopes there is new momentum with this change in policy. Mr. Chatzopoulos stressed that Greece would be patient and respectful of EU guidelines; with 27 member states there needed to be a common decision. Mr. Chatzopoulos noted that the Burmese junta is brutal and has committed terrible crimes, but said the main issue, and what is most important to Greece, is to not take measures against the people, but the regime-thus, sanctions needed to be "smart" and targeted. With regard to the 2010 elections, Mr. Chatzopoulos agreed that the opposition and ethnic groups need to participate and is also doubtful that it will be a free and fair election. When asked if Burma would come up as a topic in the GAERC or other EU discussions, Mr. Chatzopoulos said he hoped to have more information soon. Speckhard