ITALY SUPPORTS THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE BURMA POLICY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001131 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS (SCHEIBE) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV IT BM SUBJECT: ITALY SUPPORTS THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE BURMA POLICY REVIEW REF: SECSTATE 100518 Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor J. Liam Wasley for r easons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Poloff delivered reftel points on October 1 to Fabio Schina, MFA Acting Office Director for Asia, Oceania and Antarctica. Schina conveyed Italy's support for the U.S. approach to Burma outlined by Massimo Iannucci, MFA Director General for Asia, Oceania and Antarctica. The GOI's position is similar and considers the points provided in the reftel non-paper to be a positive development. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) The priorities of the GOI on Burma include freedom for the more than 2,000 political prisoners (which would be a prerequisite to a fair 2010 election),open dialog between the military junta and the democratic opposition and ethnic communities, and equitable laws that ensure democracy. ¶3. (C) Schina stated the GOI agrees with Secretary Clinton that engagement vs. sanctions is a false choice. Sanctions should be lifted only after real steps are taken by Burma to address the previously mentioned priorities. Releasing Aung San Suu Kyi would be a sign of good will and Burma's intention to undertake serious reform. Schina continued that effective sanctions should only affect the military junta and its immediate interests, not the general population. He expressed concern that sanctions on the financial sector could impede delivery of aid. ¶4. (C) Schina pointed out that because Italy has limited economic ties to Burma, political engagement is vital. The GOI wants to foster broad European and international consensus and bring Southeast Asian countries into the process. According to Schina, EU Special Envoy to Burma, Piero Fassino, believes it is important to build an international consensus, including ASEAN members. Schina opined that if the U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia delivered a single point of view on Burma, China would likely follow since it would not want to face isolation or lose credibility in the region. He finished by suggesting China's influence is overestimated. By way of example, he noted friction between Burma and China over the border clashes between the two countries in August this year, and China's apparent lack of ability to assert its will. DIBBLE