US embassy cable - 05RANGOON1059

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001059 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2015 
TAGS: PREL, BM, NL 
SUBJECT: ASEAN TO EU: "NO BURMA, NO ASEAN" 
 
 
Classified By: P/E Chief W. Patrick Murphy for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: In a show of unity, ASEAN countries have 
agreed to pull out of a September 16-17 ASEM Economic 
Ministerial Meeting.  This follows a decision by the Dutch 
government, in accordance with the EU's Common Position on 
Burma, to deny a visa to the senior Burmese delegate. 
According to Rangoon-based EU and Japanese diplomats, the 
ASEAN boycott has scuttled the entire Ministerial.  ASEAN's 
willingness to support Burma's inclusion in ASEM no doubt 
brings satisfaction to the ruling generals.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) According to diplomatic sources in Rangoon, the 
Dutch government denied a visa to Soe Tha, Burmese Minister 
of National Planning and Economic Development, to attend the 
sixth Asia-Europe (ASEM) Economic Ministerial Meeting, 
scheduled to take place in Rotterdam on September 16-17. 
 
3. (C) Japanese Embassy officers told us that ASEAN Foreign 
Ministers met in New York this week on the margins of the 
UNGA to discuss the visa development and agreed that all ten 
ASEAN countries would refuse to attend the Rotterdam meeting, 
apparently scuttling the entire Ministerial.  The Japanese 
officers said that the GOJ was deeply concerned the Dutch had 
made a bilateral decision on an issue that had significant 
implications for relations between Asia and Europe.  British 
and French diplomats, however, have told us that the Dutch 
decision was squarely in line with the EU Common Position on 
Burma, which includes a ban on visas for senior regime 
officials. 
 
4. (C) Comment:  It has been a tough week in New York for 
Burma and its Foreign Minister.  Secretary Rice and UNSYG 
Kofi Annan both singled out Burma in their respective 
meetings with ASEAN leaders, citing the regime's serious 
shortcomings with regard to political and human rights 
reforms.  Thus, ASEAN's collective decision to rally in 
response to the EU visa decision allows FM Nyan Win to return 
to Rangoon with news that will no doubt bring some 
satisfaction to the ruling generals.  The EU decision, 
however, does highlight the regime's lack of legitimacy with 
the broader international community.  End Comment. 
Villarosa