VZCZCXRO5899
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHHE #0310 2310709
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 190709Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5128
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0083
UNCLAS HELSINKI 000310
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
EAP/MLS FOR LAURA SCHEIBE, EUR/NB FOR MIGUEL RODRIGUES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BM FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND: DEMARCHE RESPONSE AUNG SAN SUU KYI
CONVICTION
REF: STATE 83598
1. (U) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Heidi Marttila,
Finnish MFA Unit for Asia and Oceania on August 18. Marttila
noted that while Government of Finland (GoF) does not comment
or issue press releases unilaterally on issues covered
through the EU, the Finnish Foreign Minister (Stubb) is well
versed on Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi's conviction and if
asked in interviews would reiterate the EU position on behalf
of Finland.
2. (SBU) Marttila said the organization Independent Diplomat
has approached the GoF for funding to assist the National
Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) in
implementation of its opposition strategy for the democratic
elections. She said that the GoF is likely to fund the
request and that the project has support from former
President Ahtisaari and other former diplomats.
BUTLER