FINLAND'S RESPONSE TO SECOND GEORGIA DEMARCHE

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000469 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/ACE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN GG PREL RS EUMEM KMCA KCRS FI SUBJECT: FINLAND'S RESPONSE TO SECOND GEORGIA DEMARCHE REF: SECSTATE 109212 ¶1. Econ Officer delivered reftel talking points to Jaakko Lehtovirta, Georgia Desk Officer at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The MFA is currently formulating the amount and direction of aid it will provide for Georgia's recovery efforts. ¶2. The MFA received the Joint Needs Assessment on October 15th. Additionally, the GOF does not have an Embassy in Georgia, making coordination difficult. Mr. Lehtovirta added that the GOF is committed to assisting the IDP, and there were different ways to do this. The Finns are considering working through their existing projects in Georgia, particularly in the environmental sector. The MFA hopes to make a decision in advance of the Donors Conference on October 22. BARRETT