BURUNDI REFUGEES IN TANZANIA: EC RESPONSE ON

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001442

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/AFR; GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM TZ BY USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: BURUNDI REFUGEES IN TANZANIA: EC RESPONSE ON
PROPOSED JOINT DEMARCHE

REF: (A) STATE 41723 (B) MEZNAR/HOUGH EMAILS OF

4/6/2005 AND PREVIOUS (C) DAR ES SALAAM 0686


1. (U) Following receipt of reftel a, USEU contacted European
Commission officials and provided the proposed text of the
joint demarche on refugees. While expressing similar
concerns and agreeing to work together to prevent refoulment,
the EC said that it would defer to the assessment of its
field-based representatives regarding the effectiveness of a
joint demarche at this time. Currently, the EC believes the
time is not right for a joint demarche. This assessment is
shared by some EU Member States and is now supported by
Embassy Dar es Salaam (reftel c). Should the situation with
regard to refugees in Tanzania deteriorate, the EC would be
willing to support a joint demarche.


2. (U) The EC remains committed to assisting refugees in
Tanzania. In 2005, ECHO plans to commit 23 million euros for
the care and maintenance of refugees in Tanzania, as well as
for repatriation activities.

MCKINLEY
.