Cablegate: Czechs Support Keeping the Pressure On the Burmese

VZCZCXRO5583
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #1124 2761528
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031528Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9684
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001124

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EAP/MLS FOR AARON COPE, EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE FOR ALEX TRATENSEK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ETRD WTRO BM EU EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS SUPPORT KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON THE BURMESE
GOVERNMENT

REF: A. STATE 1357644

B. BRUSSELS 03052
C. LONDON 03771

1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.

2. (SBU) Czech Director of Human Rights and Transition
Policy, Gabriela Dlouha, informed us that the Czech
government is supportive of the EU approach to keep the
pressure on the Burmese government. She commented that the
MFA has been following closely the discussions October 3 in
COREPER and the Czech Republic is supporting the United
Kingdom lead to tighten existing sanction measures. She
indicated that Austria, however, is expressing reluctance in
this area, questioning whether tightening existing sanctions
will cause problems with WTO regulations.

2. (SBU) Dlouha noted that the GOCR has been supportive of
the mission by UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to Burma and
that they have been following the discussions in Geneva at
the UN Human Rights Council. She stated that if the EU
decides to send a mission to Burma, or if EU member state
Ambassadors in Thailand are called upon to deliver a
demarche, the GOCR would also support such efforts. In
addition to its engagement within the EU, the GOCR has
continued its strong, active approach in support of democracy
and human rights in Burma and released press statements on
September 25, and 26, expressing support for the rights of
demonstrators and condemning the use of security forces
against demonstrators.

3. (SBU) Action request: Dlouha suggested it would be helpful
if the USG could provide to the EU Secretariat and EU Member
States any legal analysis related to imposing sanctions on
Burma in a manner consistent with WTO rules. Such a document
would help to address the concerns expressed by Austria, and
perhaps allow the EU to come to a swifter consensus.
GRABER

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