DEMARCHE RESPONSE: BURMA POLICY REVIEW

UNCLAS DILI 000269 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS LAURA SCHEIBE NSC FOR DES WALTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV BM TT SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: BURMA POLICY REVIEW REF: STATE 100518 ¶1. Post delivered reftel demarche announcing the conclusions of the Burma policy review to Isilio Coelho, MFA Director of External Relations, on September 30. ¶2. Coelho expressed his appreciation for the information on the new U.S. policy. He believed the elements of the U.S. policy would be broadly consistent with Timor-Leste's own approach to Burma. He confirmed that President Jose Ramos-Horta would continue to take the lead on Burma for the Timorese Government. ¶3. COMMENT: President Ramos-Horta has made helpful public statements on Burma in the past, particularly regarding his fellow Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. He, and by extension the Timorese Government, is most likely to support sanctions targeted as specifically as possible toward the Burmese regime and its interests, thereby minimizing the humanitarian impact on the Burmese people. The Ambassador plans to share the information on our policy review directly with Ramos-Horta next week. HENICK