MFA SAYS THAT VIETNAM WILL APPROACH BURMA ON TCG

UNCLAS HANOI 000273 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EAP/MLS (SCHEIBE),NSC (PHU) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BM VM SUBJECT: MFA SAYS THAT VIETNAM WILL APPROACH BURMA ON TCG RESTRICTIONS REF: STATE 27325 ¶1. (SBU) On March 23, Deputy PolCouns met with the MFA's Deputy DG for Southeast Asia, Ta Duy Chinh, to reiterate U.S. support for the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) on Burma and to voice concerns over recent steps by the government of Burma to further restrict the activities of international organizations and the travel of diplomatic personnel. Per reftel, he urged Vietnam to use its influence with the Burmese authorities to ensure that the TCG is able to continue its work providing assistance to the Irrawaddy Delta. ¶2. (SBU) In an uncharacteristically candid response, DG Ta said that Vietnam values the work done by the TCG and would seek to persuade Burma "through various channels" to ease restrictions on international NGO personnel and diplomats. He expressed surprise that Burma had taken the steps it had and speculated that the Burmese government was "nervous" in advance of elections. Michalak