TURKEY ON BURMA DONORS CONFERENCE

UNCLAS ANKARA 000981 SIPDIS EAP/MLS FOR AARON COPE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PGOV PHUM BM SUBJECT: TURKEY ON BURMA DONORS CONFERENCE REF: STATE 53985 ¶1. On May 22, we delivered reftel demarche to Volkan Oskiper, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, First Secretary for International Political Organizations. Oskiper said the Government of Turkey (GOT) shares the U.S.Government's concerns about the Burma regime's rush to move to reconstruction efforts. The GOT has given USD one million to the United Nations for relief efforts in Burma. The money was split equally between UNICEF and the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The GOT does not plan to make any additional pledge at the Burma Donors Conference on May 25. ¶2. Turkey's Ambassador to Thailand is also accredited to Burma. The GOT asked him to travel to Burma for a May 22-23 tour of the disaster area and asked him to remain in Rangoon through May 25 to monitor the pledge conference. Oskiper emphasized that the GOT does not intend to make any pledge at the conference. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON