Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LONDON63
2009-01-12 09:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy London
Cable title:
UK WORKING WITH EU TO IMPROVE BURMA SANCTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO4501 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHLO #0063 0120959 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 120959Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0879 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 0069
UNCLAS LONDON 000063
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON PREL PGOV BM EU UK
SUBJECT: UK WORKING WITH EU TO IMPROVE BURMA SANCTIONS
REF: 2008 STATE 125635
Action Request in Para. 3
UNCLAS LONDON 000063
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON PREL PGOV BM EU UK
SUBJECT: UK WORKING WITH EU TO IMPROVE BURMA SANCTIONS
REF: 2008 STATE 125635
Action Request in Para. 3
1. (SBU) The UK shares our goal of maintaining a united
position on Burma, and is optimistic that under the Czech
presidency, the EU will continue to strengthen its sanctions
regime against the Burmese leadership. Garret Roberts and
Mark Butcher of the Foreign Office's International
Organizations Office told us the Czech Republic is generally
pro-sanctions in ideology, and likely to provide the impetus
for additional measures against the regime. Roberts said
that now that the French are no longer handcuffed by the
traditional neutrality of the Presidency, a concept the UK
believes the Czechs will not adhere to as strongly as others,
they will be active in support of stronger sanctions.
2. (SBU) The British government agrees on the need to present
a strong public argument for identifying a more targeted
group of entities and individuals for sanctions than the
1,200 named in Annex I. HMG does not want the exercise to
delete Annex I to appear to be a backpedaling, but they
ultimately support replacing it with a more manageable list.
Their staff in Rangoon, which created the original list of
1,200, is trying to cull this down to a group that can have
maximum impact, Butcher told us. The pressure to revise the
list comes from financial institutions, which complained
about keeping track of all the parties, particularly when
some begin the name-change game. Butcher said the overall
mood in the EU is to delete Annex I due to its unwieldy
nature, and not to weaken sanctions. In fact, he said the
mood seems to be to strengthen measures. The British are
hoping for a "straight rollover" of the EU sanctions regime
when the current one expires in late April, but Butcher
acknowledged this would depend on the situation on the ground
now in Burma. HMG is not currently considering incentives to
the Burmese regime, but other Member States are.
3. (SBU) Action request: HMG has requested any USG review of
the implementation and effectiveness of the Jade Act. For the
UK to consider pushing forward with similar measures, they
would like to know what has worked, and whether any new
bureaucratic mechanisms were created.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
TUTTLE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON PREL PGOV BM EU UK
SUBJECT: UK WORKING WITH EU TO IMPROVE BURMA SANCTIONS
REF: 2008 STATE 125635
Action Request in Para. 3
1. (SBU) The UK shares our goal of maintaining a united
position on Burma, and is optimistic that under the Czech
presidency, the EU will continue to strengthen its sanctions
regime against the Burmese leadership. Garret Roberts and
Mark Butcher of the Foreign Office's International
Organizations Office told us the Czech Republic is generally
pro-sanctions in ideology, and likely to provide the impetus
for additional measures against the regime. Roberts said
that now that the French are no longer handcuffed by the
traditional neutrality of the Presidency, a concept the UK
believes the Czechs will not adhere to as strongly as others,
they will be active in support of stronger sanctions.
2. (SBU) The British government agrees on the need to present
a strong public argument for identifying a more targeted
group of entities and individuals for sanctions than the
1,200 named in Annex I. HMG does not want the exercise to
delete Annex I to appear to be a backpedaling, but they
ultimately support replacing it with a more manageable list.
Their staff in Rangoon, which created the original list of
1,200, is trying to cull this down to a group that can have
maximum impact, Butcher told us. The pressure to revise the
list comes from financial institutions, which complained
about keeping track of all the parties, particularly when
some begin the name-change game. Butcher said the overall
mood in the EU is to delete Annex I due to its unwieldy
nature, and not to weaken sanctions. In fact, he said the
mood seems to be to strengthen measures. The British are
hoping for a "straight rollover" of the EU sanctions regime
when the current one expires in late April, but Butcher
acknowledged this would depend on the situation on the ground
now in Burma. HMG is not currently considering incentives to
the Burmese regime, but other Member States are.
3. (SBU) Action request: HMG has requested any USG review of
the implementation and effectiveness of the Jade Act. For the
UK to consider pushing forward with similar measures, they
would like to know what has worked, and whether any new
bureaucratic mechanisms were created.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
TUTTLE