BELGIUM: DEMARCHE ON ENCOURAGING SUPPORT FOR

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 003184 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM BM BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM: DEMARCHE ON ENCOURAGING SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IN BURMA REF: STATE 142626 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff discussed reftel points October 16 with Christiaan Tanghe, MFA Director for Asia. Tanghe said Belgium had very few assistance programs in Asia and no direct aid programs to Burma at the moment. He indicated there were a few "partial programs" that supported small scale NGO projects aimed at promoting human rights and democracy. For example, Belgium participates in programs in Thailand to aid Burmese refugees in Thai refugee camps. ¶2. (SBU) Citing budgetary concerns, Tanghe said there were no current plans to reconsider direct assistance. He said Belgium would work with its EU partners in support of human rights and democracy programs, but Belgium's current lack of a government hampered any immediate plans to reconsider direct assistance programs. FOX .