Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1122
2009-08-12 17:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
EU WILL PUBLISH NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA ON
how-toVZCZCXRO0869 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHBS #1122 2241759 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121759Z AUG 09 FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001122
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS:LSCHEIBE AND EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BM EUN
SUBJECT: EU WILL PUBLISH NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA ON
AUGUST 14
REF: STATE 83598
Classified By: USEU Political M-C Christopher Davis for reasons 1.4b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001122
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS:LSCHEIBE AND EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BM EUN
SUBJECT: EU WILL PUBLISH NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA ON
AUGUST 14
REF: STATE 83598
Classified By: USEU Political M-C Christopher Davis for reasons 1.4b/d
1. (C) SUMMARY. Following the EU's swift and strong public
condemnation of Aung San Suu Kyi's conviction, Poloff
discussed the case on August 12 with the EU Council
Secretariat, per reftel. If there are no objections from
Member States to proposed EU sanctions, they will be
published in the Official Journal on August 14. The
Secretariat is assessing next steps, with apparent focus on a
"Group of Friends" meeting on the margins of UNGA. The EU
Secretariat forecasts that a coordinated approach among EU
member states, and with the U.S., will not be easy. END
SUMMARY.
2. (C) Leo Nordholdt (protect),EU Council Secretariat Desk
Officer for SE Asia, told Poloff on August 12, "After an
internal debate that lasted as long as the trial itself, a
compromise was reached entailing the imposition of a
relatively modest set of new sanctions, that could be enacted
quickly, in the case of a guilty verdict, whatever the
sentence: visa ban for the judges involved in the trial and
an asset freeze for a number of enterprises." Nordholdt, as
the record-keeper for Member States to voice their
disagreements with the Presidency's proposals, had received
no objections. Nordholdt refused to share the financial
specifics of the sanctions; however, he said he fully expects
the publication of the new restrictive measures in the
Official Journal of the EU on August 14.
3. (C) The EU is preparing for the Burmese regime's next
moves. Nordholdt noted that the regime's verdict gives it
the possibility to release Aung San Suu Kyi "voluntarily" at
some time later this year or early 2010. Nordholdt showed
Poloff an internal EU paper assessing future possibilities,
which included the option of Burma's participation in Ban Ki
Moon's high-level meeting of the "Group of Friends of the
Secretary General on Myanmar" on the margins of UNGA.
According to the paper, "This meeting will be crucial to
agree on a common way forward, and previous coordination is
essential. It remains to be seen how far the U.S. and some
EU Member States would go along with engagement, with Aung
San Sui Kyi still under house arrest. The EU will continue
to have difficulties to keep united."
MURRAY.
.
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS:LSCHEIBE AND EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BM EUN
SUBJECT: EU WILL PUBLISH NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA ON
AUGUST 14
REF: STATE 83598
Classified By: USEU Political M-C Christopher Davis for reasons 1.4b/d
1. (C) SUMMARY. Following the EU's swift and strong public
condemnation of Aung San Suu Kyi's conviction, Poloff
discussed the case on August 12 with the EU Council
Secretariat, per reftel. If there are no objections from
Member States to proposed EU sanctions, they will be
published in the Official Journal on August 14. The
Secretariat is assessing next steps, with apparent focus on a
"Group of Friends" meeting on the margins of UNGA. The EU
Secretariat forecasts that a coordinated approach among EU
member states, and with the U.S., will not be easy. END
SUMMARY.
2. (C) Leo Nordholdt (protect),EU Council Secretariat Desk
Officer for SE Asia, told Poloff on August 12, "After an
internal debate that lasted as long as the trial itself, a
compromise was reached entailing the imposition of a
relatively modest set of new sanctions, that could be enacted
quickly, in the case of a guilty verdict, whatever the
sentence: visa ban for the judges involved in the trial and
an asset freeze for a number of enterprises." Nordholdt, as
the record-keeper for Member States to voice their
disagreements with the Presidency's proposals, had received
no objections. Nordholdt refused to share the financial
specifics of the sanctions; however, he said he fully expects
the publication of the new restrictive measures in the
Official Journal of the EU on August 14.
3. (C) The EU is preparing for the Burmese regime's next
moves. Nordholdt noted that the regime's verdict gives it
the possibility to release Aung San Suu Kyi "voluntarily" at
some time later this year or early 2010. Nordholdt showed
Poloff an internal EU paper assessing future possibilities,
which included the option of Burma's participation in Ban Ki
Moon's high-level meeting of the "Group of Friends of the
Secretary General on Myanmar" on the margins of UNGA.
According to the paper, "This meeting will be crucial to
agree on a common way forward, and previous coordination is
essential. It remains to be seen how far the U.S. and some
EU Member States would go along with engagement, with Aung
San Sui Kyi still under house arrest. The EU will continue
to have difficulties to keep united."
MURRAY.
.