DEMARCHE RESPONSE: HUNGARIAN POSITION ON MADAGASCAR

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000298 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E MBEYZEROV E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAID PGOV SZ NO MA HU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: HUNGARIAN POSITION ON MADAGASCAR REF: STATE 35809 ¶1. (SBU) We delivered reftel talking points to Zita Szatmari, Head of Section for Southern Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She expressed concurrence with the general content of the points and agreed that the EU, the African Union (AU),and the U.S. need to speak with a common voice in support of democracy, human rights, and governments that are committed to these values. She emphasized that the EU's close engagement with the AU is embodied in a "cooperation plan" covering eight fields and noted that Hungary takes part in two areas: migration and good governance. ¶2. (SBU) On the subject of international aid, Szatmari indicated that Hungary would probably follow the EU's lead, which will be partly determined by "circumstances on the ground." She agreed that the suspension of aid would be an important tool to weaken the Rajoelina regime's grip on power, but she emphasized that the GoH would probably support any assistance needed to avert a humanitarian catstrophe. Moreover, she noted that it would be important to avoid a repeat of the events that occurred in Sudan, where the regime expelled international aid organizations in response to increased pressure from the international community, thereby exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Levine