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.

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