BRAZILIAN ENGAGEMENT IN TSUNAMI RELIEF, UNOCHA

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000075 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID AEMR PGOV BR SUBJECT: BRAZILIAN ENGAGEMENT IN TSUNAMI RELIEF, UNOCHA DONOR CONFERENCE REF: STATE 3792 ¶1. According to Ministry of External Relations (MRE),South and East Asia Division Chief Edson Duarte, the Brazilian delegation to the UNOCHA Tsunami Donors Conference will be led by the Institutional Security (GSI) chief, General Jorge Armando Felix. (The GSI is located within the Presidency; General Felix serves as the senior intelligence advisor to the President.) MRE's Head of the Asia and Oceania Department (equivalent to EAP and SA),Ambassador Edmundo Sussumu Fujita, will represent the Foreign Ministry in Geneva. Duarte explained that President Lula is meeting today with key advisors to determine Brazil's medium-term assistance package for the affected region; the GOB should be in a position to present this package at the Conference. Meanwhile, Duarte himself, along with representatives from key GOB ministries such as Health, Agriculture, and Defense, depart via GOB aircraft this weekend on a fact finding mission to Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. ¶2. Duarte confirmed that Brazil has already sent two planes with a total of 76 tons of water, medicine, and foodstuff to the region and will continue to deliver these items on an immediate basis. Varig has offered one aircraft, at cost, to help the GOB deliver supplies. Brazil has not yet determined its overall financial commitment for relief and assistance efforts. Danilovich