Cablegate: Finland: Encouraging Support for Democracy

VZCZCXRO8208
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHHE #0776 2851423
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121423Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3834
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000776

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS/AARON COPE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND: ENCOURAGING SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY
MOVEMENT IN BURMA

REF: STATE 142626

1. (SBU) PolChief delivered subject demarche to Johanna
Suurpaa, Director of the Finnish MFA's Unit for Human Rights
Policy Oct. 11. Finland has actively pressed within the EU
for strengthened sanctions and has called for the EU to seek
new sectors in which sanctions might appropriately be
applied, Suurpaa said. She noted, for example, that the ruby
trade out of Burma is particularly problematic and that
Finland may join other EU countries in pressing for concerted
sanctions on gem stone exports that benefit the regime.

2. (SBU) Suurpaa said that Finland maintains no significant
bilateral aid programs in Burma.
WARE

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