HUNGARY ON PAKISTAN'S DISPLACED PERSONS CRISIS

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000400 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CE, AND PRM/ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PREF HU SUBJECT: HUNGARY ON PAKISTAN'S DISPLACED PERSONS CRISIS REF: SECSTATE 55536 ¶1. (U) Embassy delivered reftel demarches seeking assistance for Pakistan's growing internally displaced persons (IDP) crisis to MFA International Organizations and Human Rights Deputy Director General Istvan Lakatos and Counselor Katalin Buzas. Lakatos agreed that the situation on the ground in Pakistan is becoming increasingly urgent, and expressed support for increasing the UN appeal to help the GOP meet the growing IDP crisis. Lakatos noted, however, that Hungary's commitment to reduce its budget deficit under the terms of the IMF-EU stabailzation package made it impossible for Hungary to increase its international assistance levels at this time. He pointed out that because of budgetary constraints, the MFA is planning to close or curtail the activities of as many as 20 embassies and consulates overseas (septel). ¶2. (U) Buzas and Lakatos informed the Embassy that Pakistan's IDP crisis may be a topic of discussion at the Second Budapest Human Rights Forum, taking place in Hungary on June 25-26, 2009. Panels are scheduled to include discussion of the prevention of genocide, human rights aspects of the "neighborhood policy" of the EU, and the freedom of movement. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay is expected to speak, as well as Francis Deng, former UN rapporteur on international displaced persons issues under Kofi Annan. Levine