SLOVENIA OPEN TO NEW IDEAS ON BURMA, SUPPORTS EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000113 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CE AND EAP/MLS:ESHEIBE, NSC FOR ELIZABETH PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2019 TAGS: PGOV ETRD PREL BM SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA OPEN TO NEW IDEAS ON BURMA, SUPPORTS EU COMMON POSITION SHORT-TERM REF: SECSTATE 33547 Classified By: ADCM Grace Shelton, reasons 1.4(b,d) ¶1. (C) Emboff delivered reftel demarche and technical paper on the U.S. Burma policy review to Matjaz Marko, first secretary in the MFA's Asia division. Marko agreed that the EU common position would not change; Slovenia supported the rollover in the EU's position from last year. Marko described the EU position on Burma as split between two blocks: one group, led by the UK, Denmark, Sweden, favors stronger sanctions, while the second, led by Germany, France, and Spain, looks for a more open policy towards Burma. Slovenia, according to Marko, leans toward a more open dialogue with the Burmese regime. Marko noted that repeating the mantra of ever-stronger sanctions has not achieved results, but efforts, such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's visit after the cyclone in May 2008, could bring progress. Marko mentioned the upcoming EU-ASEAN ministerial in Phnom Penh in late May as a possible venue for a breakthrough on a way forward; Marko said that FM Zbogar plans to attend the summit. FREDEN