SPAIN'S VIEWS ON SHAPING POST-CYCLONE ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS MADRID 000725 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS (AARON COPE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SP EAID PHUM BM SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS ON SHAPING POST-CYCLONE ASSISTANCE IN BURMA REF: SECSTATE 68527 ¶1. (SBU) On July 2, 2008, Poloff discussed reftel with Spanish MFA Deputy Director General for the Pacific, Southeast Asia and Philippines, Jose Luis Garcia Galan. Poloff stressed the importance of continued international insistence on access, transparency and accountability of humanitarian assistance and that such assistance must not reinforce or perpetuate the Burmese regime's human rights abuses or economic mismanagement. ¶2. (SBU) Garcia said the GOS agrees with the United States regarding the need for accountability and added that European sanctions have proven efficient and effective. Garcia said the GOS will continue to work with Europe on this issue and is working within Spain to increase public awareness and Spain's profile in the region. To this end, Garcia said the GOS has begun working on a program to aid refugees in Thailand and anticipates such aid will benefit the Burmese refugees on the Thailand border as well. Garcia returned from Beijing July 1, having attended the fifth Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) meeting. According to Garcia, post-cyclone assistance in Burma was discussed generally (not a formal agenda item) and will be on the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit's agenda, scheduled for October 2008. AGUIRRE