DEMARCHE TO TURKEY ON FOOD CRISIS IN HORN OF AFRICA

UNCLAS ANKARA 008620 SIPDIS STATE PASS TO USAID/DCHA/FFP/NHCARLSON AND SBRADLY; USAID/ADDIS BDUNFORD; USAID/DCHA/OFDA/DWARNER AND JLADENSON; USAID/AFR/EA/LBESHAWRED STATE ALSO FOR AF/E/BPHIPPS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EAGR PREL ER ET TU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO TURKEY ON FOOD CRISIS IN HORN OF AFRICA REF: STATE 233833 ¶1. EconCouns delivered reftel demarche to MFA Deputy Director General for International Relations Osman Paksut on November 26. Paksut said Turkey's Embassy in Addis Ababa had kept the Ministry informed of the developing food crisis, but the MFA had not yet made any decisions about whether it could respond. ¶2. While noting that Turkey's ongoing financial crisis made it difficult for the government to provide assistance, Paksut said he would consult within the MFA and with the Turkish Red Crescent to see what might be possible. One option would be for the Red Crescent to provide a small amount of cash. If, as suggested in reftel, the international donor community is able to come up with funds to cover transportation, Turkey might be able to provide surplus grain. Paksut promised to update Embassy following his internal consultations. Meanwhile, Embassy will raise the issue in its next meeting with the Red Crescent. PEARSON