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