GEORGIA DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000451 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/ACE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN EINV KCRS KMCA EUMEM PREL GG FI SUBJECT: GEORGIA DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 100093 ¶1. Econ Assistant delivered reftel points regarding the upcoming International Georgia Reconstruction Donors Conference in Brussels to Mr Jaakko Lehtovirta, Georgia Desk Officer at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The MFA is working to determine how much room there is in Finland's budget to make a donation for the post-war reconstruction and economic recovery of Georgia, but no final decision has yet been made on how much support will be provided. ¶2. Lehtovirta also stated that Finland is committed to provide support for humanitarian assistance of civilian victims of the crisis in Georgia up to the amount of EUR 1 million. At this stage the plan is to channel the assistance primarily through the international Committee of the Red Cross ICRC, the Finnish Red Cross and the UN relief agencies (WFP). The overall amount of this assistance granted to date by the Finnish government stands at EUR 600 000. BARRETT