UK SHARES U.S. OBJECTIVES FOR BURMA CONFERENCE BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001424 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP - COPE, IO AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAID BM UK SUBJECT: UK SHARES U.S. OBJECTIVES FOR BURMA CONFERENCE BUT FOCUSSED ON ASEAN MECHANISM AND CONCERNED ABOUT PRESS REF: STATE 53985 Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, Jr. for reasons 1.4 ( b,d) ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel on the Burma donors conference to Nigel Boud, Burma Director in the British Foreign Office, on May 21. Boud said HMG's objectives for the conference "tally exactly" with those of the USG. HMG's overall goal is to gain immediate access for humanitarian assistance and to perform necessary assessments for Burma's needs. Richard Tillbrook, DFID Deputy Director for Central and East Asia told Econoff in a separate meeting that the UK shares U.S. concerns about the conference and did not want to see the conference branded as a "donors conference." He reinforced Boud's point that immediate access was key. Efficient distribution of assistance is another UK goal -- aid should not be diverted to "pet Burmese projects," Tillbook stressed. Boud said the UK differed with the U.S. only in approach, with the British Government focusing on ASEAN members and the newly-announced mechanism for, and commitment to, the delivery of humanitarian assistance. "We want to see them put their money where their mouth is (sic)," said Boud. HMG is engaged in daily, high-level lobbying of ASEAN Member States, pressing them to deliver on logistics and supplies for Burma. Tillbrook noted a few encouraging signs, including access for ASEAN medical technicians in the delta, but stressed that logistics issues need to be sorted out quickly to get aid to the needy. He praised the U.S. for continuing to engage bilaterally with Burmese officials. Reconstruction not the Focus -------------- ¶2. (C) Boud said the UK agrees entirely with the U.S. point that reconstruction should not be the focus of the Burma conference, given the extent of the immediate need. The UK is supporting the ASEAN regional approach and is seeking to work with regional partners. Boud noted that there has been some discussion about using the private sector to build logistical/delivery capacity if ASEAN is unable to build such a pipeline. Poloff asked Boud to explain what this meant; he gave as an example using oil companies (e.g., British Petroleum) boats and helicopters to transport American, British, and French or other Western aid to Burma to avoid Burmese resistance to the use of, and entrance into Burma of, Western government boats or helicopters. Boud noted recent reports that the World Food Program has been allowed to bring nine helicopters into Burma to deliver aid. It is the UK's hope, said Boud, that the regime is modifying its stance about allowing in humanitarian assistance. Concern Over Media Attendance -------------- ¶3. (C) Boud said a UK goal for the conference is to build on what may be an opening and seek unity from the international community to pressure the regime to accept an increased level of assistance. He expressed concern about access for the international media to the conference, noting that the Burmese government would "put its spin" on the event and that it was not clear Western officials would have direct access to international reporters to counter that spin. Boud said UNSYG Moon was going to raise this issue in Burma "to see what he can secure" in the way of press access. He added that HMG has not decided who will attend the conference but suggested it would be "someone from the development (vice Foreign Office) side of government." Boud added that EU Member States were in the position of waiting to see what level of official other governments were sending before making their own determinations about participation. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom TUTTLE