Alert ! European Commission to Requ

[sbillenness@xxxxxxxx]

Subject: Alert ! European Commission to Request Formal Consultations on  Mass. Burma Law

NEW ENGLAND BURMA ROUNDTABLE

EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO REQUEST FORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON MASSACHUSETTS BURMA LAW

June 20, 1997

Yesterday, Sir Leon Brittan, Vice President of the European Commission
(EC), sent a letter to US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky. In the
letter, Brittan informed Barshefsky that, today, the EC would request
"formal consultations" with the US concerning the Massachusetts Burma law.

Under World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute mechanisms, the EC is required
to have three rounds of formal consultations with the US before taking the
dispute to a WTO arbitration panel. Consequently, this move by the European
Commission represents a significant increase in pressure on the US,
possibly leading to the formation of a formal dispute panel.

The European Commission is clearly hoping that, by turning up the heat on
the Massachusetts Burma law, it will persuade Massachusetts legislators to
water down the Burma law and bring it in compliance with the WTO Agreement
on Government Procurement. 

SUGGESTIONS FOR ACTION

1. Massachusetts Residents
2. Residents of other US states

1. Massachusetts Residents

Letters and phone calls to our elected officials work! In response to our
letters, Attorney General Harshbarger has told Reuters of his firm support
for the Burma law. State legislators have called to ask how they can help
defend the law.

Please write, call or fax. Let our elected officials know that:

1. You strongly support the Massachusetts Burma law as it currently stands.
2. European Commission bureaucrats should not be allowed to tell elected
Massachusetts legislators how to spend taxpayers money.
3. On June 12, the European Parliament unanimously passed a resolution that
urged the European Commission not to take action against the Massachusetts
Burma law at the World Trade Organization. Why should Massachusetts
legislators amend their Burma law to suit European Commission bureaucrats
when elected European Parliament legislators unanimously support the
Massachusetts Burma law?
4. If you're from another New England state, feel free to write the
Governor, Attorney General, Senate President and House Speaker to offer
your support. Mention that you support the enactment of similar Burma
selective purchasing laws in your home state.

***  5. If you have already written ask a friend, coworker or family member
to write too!  ***

Governor William Weld
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133	
(617) 727-3600
(617) 727-5291 fax

Attorney General Scott Harshbarger
1 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-2200
(617) 727-5778 fax

Senate President Thomas Birmingham
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-1500
(617) 248-3840 fax

House Speaker Thomas Finneran
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2500
(617) 722-2008 fax

Call your state representative and state senator at: (617) 722-2000
Write to them at:
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133

Thank you for your help. Your efforts will protect the Massachusetts Burma
law.

Simon Billenness
* for the New England Burma Roundtable *
Franklin Research & Development
711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 292-8026 x 225
(617) 482 6179 fax
sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
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