US embassy cable - 05MANILA2014

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 002014 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/PMBS, EAP/BCLTV, EAP/RSP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, BM, RP, ASEAN 
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES EXPECT BURMA TO RELINQUISH ASEAN CHAIR 
 
REF: MANILA 1737 
 
Classified By: Pol/C Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  In meeting with Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo on 
May 2, Ambassador urged the GRP -- and Romulo, personally -- 
to continue to work within ASEAN to push Burma toward 
democratic change and release of Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as 
other key roadmap goals, as Romulo had done at the ASEAN 
Foreign Ministers' retreat in Cebu (reftel).  Romulo noted 
that, for the Philippines in particular, the issue was far 
greater than whether Burma would or would not relinquish the 
chairmanship of ASEAN after Malaysia, but instead how best to 
ensure that Burma stuck to a real timeline for the roadmap, 
including permission for the UN Secretary General's special 
envoy to visit soon.  He said he was content to let other 
Foreign Ministers agitate about the chairmanship issue 
itself, in part due to concern that others would see the GRP 
as trying to grab the chairmanship for itself (as next in 
alphabetical order).  He noted Philippine Congressional and 
Senate resolutions against Burma's chairmanship as well as 
strong editorial comment in the Philippine media, and 
indicated that he had shared these views with his ASEAN 
counterparts.  He indicated that he believed that Burma 
would, in the end, decide to relinquish the chair. 
Separately, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for Policy 
Sonia Brady (a former Ambassador to Burma and Thailand) noted 
that the GRP was ready to assume the chairmanship in 2007, as 
needed.  She added that there was no consideration of 
Malaysia extending its chairmanship for a second year, but 
pointed to the precedent of sorts of Vietnam, which early in 
its ASEAN membership had deferred its turn as chairman. 
 
2.  (C)  Ambassador underscored that major USG goals 
worldwide were the spread of freedom and the expansion of the 
circle of democracies, and expressed appreciation for what 
the GRP was doing in this regard already.  Romulo noted that 
the ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting in Japan May 6-7 would 
provide another opportunity for discussion on Burma, which 
would also be sending a representative. 
 
3.  (C)  Comment:  Department may wish to provide Embassies 
in ASEM member capitals an update on US views on Burma in 
advance of this meeting to share with their counterparts. 
Ricciardone