VZCZCXRO3181
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #1212/01 3131608
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091608Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9790
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0208
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0079
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0042

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001212 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/NCE FOR ATRATENSEK, EAP/MLS FOR ACOPE, EUR/PPD FOR 
CBRUNER, EUR/ERA FOR NOTALLAH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EZ BM EUN
SUBJECT: CZECH CONFERENCE ON BURMA - LAUNCHES FORMATION OF 
EU PARLIAMENTARY NETWORK FOR DEMOCRACY IN BURMA 
 
REF: A. CARNIE-COPE E-MAIL DATED 11.9.07 
 
     ¶B. STATE 148530 
     ¶C. STATE 148528 
     ¶D. PRAGUE 1169 
     ¶E. PRAGUE 1158 
     ¶F. PRAGUE 1124 
     ¶G. PRAGUE 1086 
 
¶1. Summary: With funding from the Czech Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, Parliamentarians from the Czech Republic, Slovakia 
and Estonia, and U.S. Embassy participation, the NGO "People 
in Need" hosted a conference "Burma Alert: Action Needed Now" 
on November 6.  The event, which was launched by former 
President Vaclav Havel, was held at the Czech Parliament and 
included panel discussions on civil society activities, 
international community support, and recommendations from 
Burmese advocacy groups.  The Members of Parliament produced 
a statement which, among other things, calls upon European MP 
colleagues to join in creating an "EU Parliamentary Network 
for Democracy in Burma."  This statement (ref A) is currently 
being circulated for signature by additional MPs not present 
at the conference.  End Summary. 
 
 
----------- 
Set Benchmarks and an End Date 
----------- 
¶2. During the conference, the participants made a number of 
interesting suggestions for action. For example, Sein Win, 
the "Prime Minister of the Exiled National Coalition 
Government of the Union of Burma," indicated he was 
encouraged by the recent regime engagement with Aung San Suu 
Kyi.  He stated, however, that the regime typically drags out 
negotiations and only negotiates on superficial matters. 
Thus, Sein Win emphasized the need for the UN Special Envoy 
Gambari to establish benchmarks and a closing date for 
negotiations.   On the topic of negotiations, several 
speakers highlighted the importance of including ethnic 
minority issues and that there must be consequences if 
negotiations break down. 
 
---------- 
Call for Multi-Party Talks 
---------- 
¶3.  During his remarks, Harn Yawnghwe, Director of the 
"Euro-Burma Office" based in Belgium, noted that while years 
of dialogue with the military has not produced results, the 
unity of the international community now may have an effect. 
He proposed that the international community press for the 
establishment of multi-party talks, along the lines of what 
we have for North Korea, with the involvement of key 
neighbors (i.e. India and China) and under UN auspices.  On a 
final note, Yawnghwe warned against the establishment of any 
parallel process of negotiations to the UN, such as via the 
auspices of a new EU special envoy. (Note: The EU announced 
the appointment of EU Special Envoy for Burma/Myanmar Pierro 
Fassino on November 6.  End Note.)  He, and Charles Chong, 
Singapore MP and Member of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary 
Myanmar Caucus, both stated that by establishing different 
channels of negotiation, the regime would likely attempt to 
play one party against the other and further delay meaningful 
action. 
 
---------- 
Applying Pressure to ASEAN on Burma 
---------- 
¶4. While Harn Yawnghwe urged the EU to use the summits with 
ASEAN, India and China to encourage these key players to put 
pressure on the regime, an audience member went one step 
further and suggested that Burma should be suspended from 
ASEAN.  The Singapore MP Charles Chong explained that the 
majority position within ASEAN currently is to engage with 
Burma, rather than to suspend it.  Chong also noted that 
Burma had been forced to forgo its turn in the ASEAN 
presidency and that Burma is on the agenda for the upcoming 
ASEAN meeting.  Gabriela Dlouha, Czech MFA Director for Human 
Rights and Transition Policy commented that Czech Foreign 
Minister Schwarzenberg, who has been engaged actively 
regarding the situation in Burma and met with representatives 
of the Burmese opposition on November 2, intends to discuss 
Burma with his Asian partners at the upcoming EU-ASEAN Summit. 
 
---------- 
Stop Burmese Generals Receiving Medical Treatment in Singapore 
---------- 
¶5. A Buddhist monk in the audience questioned Singapore MP 
 
PRAGUE 00001212  002 OF 002 
 
 
Chong about why the Singapore government allows Burmese 
officials to travel to Singapore to receive medical 
treatment.  Restricting this travel would be particularly 
appropriate in his opinion since the regime does not allow 
ordinary Burmese citizens to travel outside the country to 
receive treatment.  Chong urged the monk to provide names and 
details and said he would continue to press his government to 
restrict travel of members of the Burmese regime. 
 
¶6. Comment: PIN's aim in coordinating this conference was to 
facilitate dialogue among a diverse and energized group of 
parliamentarians and NGOs, especially those in the new EU 
states, which it achieved.  Additionally, we anticipate that 
several MPs, particularly those that helped form the "EU 
Parliamentary Network for Democracy in Burma" will help 
bolster the growing chorus of Europeans speaking out more 
forcefully and regularly on the situation in Burma. 
 
¶7. Comment Continued: Post wishes to offer its thanks to 
EAP/MLP for its assistance crafting our conference remarks, 
which were well-received. 
Graber