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 .