BURMA: GERMAN AMBASSADOR DELIVERS BTWC DEMARCHE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000439 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2019 TAGS: PARM MCAP PREL BM SUBJECT: BURMA: GERMAN AMBASSADOR DELIVERS BTWC DEMARCHE ON BEHALF OF QUAD Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) German Ambassador Luy delivered a demarche on promoting Burma's accession to the Biological and Toxin Weapon Convention to Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win on July 10. MOFA Director General for International Organizations and Economic Department Thant Kyaw was also present. Ambassador Luy underlined the support of France, the United Kingdom and the USG for the demarche. ¶2. (C) According to Luy, FM Nyan Win responded that Burma's delay in acceding to the BTWC was not due to political reasons as Burma is traditionally against all weapons of mass destruction. Nyan Win noted that an ongoing study of the consequences by the Convention's ratification on Burma's legislation and regulation has proved challenging, particularly since Burma intends to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention together with the BTWC. Nyan Win said that the SPDC and the cabinet ultimately would make the decision on ratification, relying on MOFA's recommendation. DINGER