Cablegate: Demarche to Lao Government: U.S. Sanctions Against

VZCZCXRO7716
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHVN #0788 2970845
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240845Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1591
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000788

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EAP/MLS FOR AARON COPE
EAP/MLS FOR ED BESTIC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ETRD EFIN BM LA ASEAN
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO LAO GOVERNMENT: U.S. SANCTIONS AGAINST
BURMA

REF: A. STATE 146862

B. VIENTIANE 787
C. VIENTIANE 767

1. (SBU) The Ambassador delivered Ref A demarche on Burma
during an October 22 meeting with Assistant Foreign Minister
Alounkeo Kittikhoun primarily devoted to the Hmong waiver
issue (Ref B). He provided the Assistant Minister with the
White House fact sheet, the text of the executive order, and
the list of names of affected individuals.

2. (SBU) The Ambassador thanked Mr. Alounkeo for the
positive role that the Lao government had played, including
its participation in the ASEAN statement. ASEAN's continued
engagement, he said, will be crucial to the success of UN
Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari. It will also send a
positive signal that ASEAN as an organization is working to
address a situation within ASEAN. Mr. Alounkeo took note of
the Ambassador's remarks but did not provide any substantive
comments. Other MFA officials had previously expressed the
GOL's commitment to remaining engaged on Burma within ASEAN
(Ref C).
HUSO

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