HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON THE BURMA POLICY REVIEW

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000715 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS LAURA SCHEIBE AND EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE. PLEASE PASS TO DESMOND WALTON AT THE NSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV BM HU SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON THE BURMA POLICY REVIEW REF: SECSTATE 100518 ¶1. (SBU) PolOff met with Gyula Petho, MFA's Asia/Pacific Department Head, on September 29 to discuss reftel. Expressing appreciation for the policy review read-out, Petho stated that Hungary fully supports direct dialogue with the Burmese Government. Based on the outlined USG policy, he expects that Burma will now be an agenda item for EU's October GAERC. Petho said that if the EU supports the policy shift, he anticipates that, in particular, those Asian countries who believe in direct engagement will be ready for "closer cooperation and a real readiness to discuss" ways to address issues with the Burmese Government. ¶2. (SBU) Referencing the "measured approach" to the 2010 election, Petho asked if "we will close one eye..." since, as the review states, "we are skeptical that the elections will be either free or fair." Continuing, he asked if the Aung San Suu Kyi's status will be a factor in assessing the election process. ¶3. (SBU) In closing, Petho commented that he will pass the review comments to the Hungarian Embassy in Australia, as President Solyom is scheduled to meet with the Australian Prime Minister on Friday, October 2, and they will have an opportunity to directly discuss the issue. LEVINE