CAMBODIA TRAFFICKING SCANDAL: EU RESPONSE

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 005392 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CB KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: CAMBODIA TRAFFICKING SCANDAL: EU RESPONSE REF: A. STATE 269580 ¶B. PHNOM PENH 1925 ¶1. (SBU) We reviewed ref (A) points with Commission Cambodia desk officers Joao Ferreira and Tom Yorkie and urged the EU to continue pressing the RGC to take immediate action to locate and protect the missing women and girls. We thanked them for the December 10 EU statement but said that more would likely be required in order to push the case through to a positive outcome. They were encouraged to hear that we had made high level demarches on the issue and promised to pass our points to colleagues in Phnom Penh. They were unaware of any further actions being planned by the EU (vice individual EU Member States),but agreed it would be useful for the US and EU to coordinate on the ground. The UK Embassy represents the EU Presidency in Cambodia and issued the December 10 statement on behalf of the EU. The European Commission also has a delegation in Phnom Penh that has been active on TIP issues. The two together are able to represent the EU as a whole. Yorkie promised to pass them our points and said both should be happy to coordinate with us. McKinley