Cablegate: Gvn Will Urge Burma to Allow Relief Teams

VZCZCXRO8352
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0538 1290956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080956Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7772
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4687

UNCLAS HANOI 000538

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL BM VM
SUBJECT: GVN WILL URGE BURMA TO ALLOW RELIEF TEAMS

REF: STATE 48651

On May 8, poloff discussed reftel points on humanitarian response to
Cyclone Nargis with MFA Asia II Department Section Chief Ta Duy
Chinh. According to Chinh, the GVN thinks the presence of disaster
relief teams in Burma is necessary and the GVN will encourage
Burmese officials to allow access for such teams. Concerning a
joint statement at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Chinh said he
could not comment without first seeing the text of a proposed
statement. He did suggest, however, that if the statement addresses
only the issue of humanitarian relief, it might be acceptable to the
GVN. Chinh also suggested that the U.S. delegation to the ARF
contact the GVN team directly in Singapore. The GVN has no medical
or technical teams to send to Burma, but Chinh said the GVN would
probably send some in-kind disaster assistance.

MICHALAK

© Scoop Media