Cablegate: Latvian Assistance in Response to Cyclone Nargis

VZCZCXRO4165
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBW RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHRA #0258 1351357
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141357Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4914
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS RIGA 000258

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAID BM LG

SUBJECT: LATVIAN ASSISTANCE IN RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS

REF: RIGA 245

1. Post recently sent in a demarche response stating the GOL was not
planning to provide humanitarian assistance in the wake of Cyclone
Nargis. However, we have subsequently learned the following about
public and private efforts:

--On May 13, the GOL's cabinet approved a 20,000 EUR donation for
Burmese disaster victims. The money will be donated to the UN
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

--The youth volunteer wing of the Latvian Red Cross has hosted
several events to raise funds for victims.

--Lastly, there is a Latvian firm, GM Helicopters, that operates in
Malaysia and Africa. The firm has pledged to help with
transportation needs.

LARSON

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