BURMA: GREECE'S POST-CYCLONE ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS ATHENS 000951 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAID GR SUBJECT: BURMA: GREECE'S POST-CYCLONE ASSISTANCE REF: A. STATE 68527 ¶B. ATHENS 717 ¶1. (SBU) On July 3, PolOff delivered ref A points on shaping post-cyclone assistance in Burma to First Counselor Anthi Balonou, Deputy Director of the MFA A10 Directorate for Asia and Oceania. Balonou agreed the success of the aid to Burma was dependendent on the unity of the international community. That said, she was pessimistic the Burmese regime would allow full access. At the May 25 donors conference, the Greek Economic Counselor at Bangkok represented Greece. At that time, he was given access to a few affected areas from the Cyclone Nargis but since had been denied entry. The Greek Embassy in Bangkok is also accredited to Burma. ¶2. (U) Greece was among the first four nations to send aid to Burma. To date, Greece has contributed close to 750,000 USD towards relief efforts. Greece also sent two HAF C-130s with medical and other supplies. The second plane also contained a group of Greek doctors (ref B). SPECKHARD