Cablegate: Netherlands/Burma: Finnish Asem Invitation To

VZCZCXRO0316
PP RUEHAG RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHKW RUEHNH RUEHPB
DE RUEHTC #1701 2160750
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 040750Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6468
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUCNMUC/EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0357

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001701

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BU FI NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/BURMA: FINNISH ASEM INVITATION TO
BURMESE FOREIGN MINISTER

REF: STATE 124139

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew J Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).

1. (C) Summary: Although the GONL avoided inviting the
Burmese to any EU fora during their 2005 EU Presidency, it
insists such an invitation is consistent with EU procedures
(per reftel). The Dutch are not actively pushing to reverse
the Finnish decision. End summary.

2. (C) Poloffs delivered reftel demarche August 1 to MFA
Southeast Asia Policy Officer Maurice Pourchez. The MFA,
according to Pourchez, will not seek to influence the Finns
on the matter. Pourchez underscored the strong Dutch
aversion to the invitation/visa issuance but said that EU
rules do allow invitations in cases where human rights in
Burma may be addressed. Poloffs responded that, according to
Pourchez's own office, the Burmese foreign minister has
relatively little influence within the regime and his
presence at an EU forum can do little to further human rights
in Burma.

3. (C) Pourchez said that the GONL intends, during the
summit, to be "very aggressive" in their criticism of Burma,
thus having an impact on the attitudes of other ASEAN
countries toward Burma. Poloffs repeated to Pourchez our
concern that proposed meetings between the Finnish PM and the
Burmese FM, as well as the possible troika bilats with the
Burmese, were likely only to lend legitimacy to the Burmese
regime.

4. (C) Pourchez further defended the GONL's (and the EU's)
approach, saying that ASEAN has previously threatened to not
cooperate with the EU, if individual AEAN members were
excluded from ASEM and other fora. The GONL, he said,
therefore feels compelled to deal with Burma, even while
trying to keep the focus on human rights.

5. (C) DCM and PolCouns separately reiterated reftel points
with acting Director General for Political Affairs Wim
Geerts. DCM reminded Geerts that the Dutch had made a point
of not inviting the Burmese during their 2005 EU Presidency.
Geerts acknowledged this, but did not indicate that the Dutch
intended to take a strong stand against Burmese attendance at
the ASEM meeting. He underscored, however, the GONL's own
strong stance on Burma's human rights record.
BLAKEMAN

© Scoop Media