NETHERLANDS/BURMA: DUTCH SUPPORT U.S. VIEW ON AID

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000584 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018 TAGS: PGOV EAID BM NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/BURMA: DUTCH SUPPORT U.S. VIEW ON AID REF: A. SECSTATE 68527 ¶B. THE HAGUE 385 Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,d) (C) On June 26, poloff shared reftel points with Dutch MFA Burma desk officer Maaike van der Werf. In a follow-up discussion July 9, Van der Werf said the Dutch fully support U.S. efforts to ensure that aid to Burma does not perpetuate human rights abuses. The Burmese are granting more visas to aid workers recently, although the visas are still limited. Minister for Development Cooperation Koenders is looking for ways to assist democracy and human rights programs in Burma, although Burma is not among the Netherlands' development partners that receive the bulk of Dutch aid. The Dutch expect the visit to Burma by UN Special Envoy Gambari and the UNSYG to help maintain international focus on Burma. While the international focus on humanitarian needs in Burma has sidetracked human rights and democracy efforts over the past several months, Van der Werf believes international attention is now divided evenly between humanitarian assistance and democracy / human rights. Gallagher