Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS1015
2008-07-03 16:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
BURMA: EU AGREES THAT FURTHER ASSISTANCE DEPENDS
how-toVZCZCXRO9579 PP RUEHAG RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHROV DE RUEHBS #1015 1851653 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031653Z JUL 08 FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001015
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV EAID BM EUN
SUBJECT: BURMA: EU AGREES THAT FURTHER ASSISTANCE DEPENDS
ON TRANSPARENCY
REF: A. STATE 59122
B. 68527
Classified By: Political Officer Ryan Bowles, for reasons 1.4 b and g.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001015
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV EAID BM EUN
SUBJECT: BURMA: EU AGREES THAT FURTHER ASSISTANCE DEPENDS
ON TRANSPARENCY
REF: A. STATE 59122
B. 68527
Classified By: Political Officer Ryan Bowles, for reasons 1.4 b and g.
1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 26, USEU Poloff delivered
reftel points to Seamus Gillespie at the European Commission
(EC). He agrees with our points and stressed the need for
close cooperation. He raised two issues that the EC sees as
problematic: Restrictions on the World Food Program (WFP)
and the lack of first-hand information the EC has to make
informed decisions. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) On June 26, poloff delivered reftel points to
Seamus Gillespie, Head of Unit for Southeast Asia at the
Director General for External Relations (DG RELEX),at the
European Commission. Gillespie responded that he agreed
broadly with all of our points, but stressed the need to
cooperate closely in crafting our public message after the
report is released. He felt strongly that the U.S., Europe,
Australia, and Japan had to put forth a consistent message if
the Burmese regime is to act favorably.
3. (C) Gillespie also made clear that the European
Commission wants to work with the U.S. to provide effective
post-cyclone assistance to the Burmese people, and brought up
several areas of concern. First, he said that the Commission
is concerned about the Burmese government blocking the WFP
from importing rice seed. They have received reports of a
sharp rise in the price of rice seed, and have heard reports
that the WFP has been forbidden from purchasing locally,
choosing to import rice seed instead. In addition to the
present food shortages, he says that the government's
rent-seeking behavior will affect next year's rice harvest
and food supply. Officials in the South-East Asia Directorate
would like to know if the U.S. has any additional insight
into the implications of the way the Burmese government is
handling the WFP.
4. (C) The other area of concern to him is the "opaque
environment" in which his directorate is operating. The EC
has no representation in Burma, so they are acting only on
secondary information and operating without knowledge of
precise localities or numbers. Given the nature of the
government in Myanmar, the EC would like the EU and U.S. to
cooperate in deciding what kind of assistance should follow
the release of the ASEAN report on July 20. Rather than
providing financial assistance to the Burmese government,
another option the EC would consider is to provide assistance
at the sectoral level in areas in which member states have
expertise. The WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) are conducting sectoral assessments of the situation.
The EU and U.S., likely together with Japan and Australia,
could participate in assistance to a particular sector such
as reconstructing schools or supporting primary education.
MURRAY
.
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV EAID BM EUN
SUBJECT: BURMA: EU AGREES THAT FURTHER ASSISTANCE DEPENDS
ON TRANSPARENCY
REF: A. STATE 59122
B. 68527
Classified By: Political Officer Ryan Bowles, for reasons 1.4 b and g.
1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 26, USEU Poloff delivered
reftel points to Seamus Gillespie at the European Commission
(EC). He agrees with our points and stressed the need for
close cooperation. He raised two issues that the EC sees as
problematic: Restrictions on the World Food Program (WFP)
and the lack of first-hand information the EC has to make
informed decisions. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) On June 26, poloff delivered reftel points to
Seamus Gillespie, Head of Unit for Southeast Asia at the
Director General for External Relations (DG RELEX),at the
European Commission. Gillespie responded that he agreed
broadly with all of our points, but stressed the need to
cooperate closely in crafting our public message after the
report is released. He felt strongly that the U.S., Europe,
Australia, and Japan had to put forth a consistent message if
the Burmese regime is to act favorably.
3. (C) Gillespie also made clear that the European
Commission wants to work with the U.S. to provide effective
post-cyclone assistance to the Burmese people, and brought up
several areas of concern. First, he said that the Commission
is concerned about the Burmese government blocking the WFP
from importing rice seed. They have received reports of a
sharp rise in the price of rice seed, and have heard reports
that the WFP has been forbidden from purchasing locally,
choosing to import rice seed instead. In addition to the
present food shortages, he says that the government's
rent-seeking behavior will affect next year's rice harvest
and food supply. Officials in the South-East Asia Directorate
would like to know if the U.S. has any additional insight
into the implications of the way the Burmese government is
handling the WFP.
4. (C) The other area of concern to him is the "opaque
environment" in which his directorate is operating. The EC
has no representation in Burma, so they are acting only on
secondary information and operating without knowledge of
precise localities or numbers. Given the nature of the
government in Myanmar, the EC would like the EU and U.S. to
cooperate in deciding what kind of assistance should follow
the release of the ASEAN report on July 20. Rather than
providing financial assistance to the Burmese government,
another option the EC would consider is to provide assistance
at the sectoral level in areas in which member states have
expertise. The WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) are conducting sectoral assessments of the situation.
The EU and U.S., likely together with Japan and Australia,
could participate in assistance to a particular sector such
as reconstructing schools or supporting primary education.
MURRAY
.