Cablegate: Gvn Sending Medical Team to Burma

VZCZCXRO0733
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0656 1560857
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040857Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7938
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4798

UNCLAS HANOI 000656

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PGOV PHUM BM VM
SUBJECT: GVN SENDING MEDICAL TEAM TO BURMA

REF: STATE 59122

1. On June 3, poloff discussed reftel points about the Burmese
regime's ongoing restrictions and forced relocations with MFA Asia
II Department Burma Desk Officer Tran Nguyen Thao. Thao said the
GVN has no additional information about the situation of relief
workers' access in Burma. The GVN has received permission to send a
medical team to Burma. The 15-member team from the Ministry of
Health will depart Vietnam on June 4 and remain in Burma for 2-3
weeks.

2. Thao also mentioned that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Pham Gia Khiem urged Burmese leaders to open up to
international relief teams during his visit to Rangoon for the
Donors Conference. The GVN will use future opportunities to repeat
the same message. According to Thao, the next monthly ASEAN Cyclone
Nargis Taskforce meeting will be held in Rangoon on June 25.

MICHALAK

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