Cablegate: Spain's Views On Shaping Post-Cyclone Assistance

VZCZCXRO9163
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHMD #0725 1851055
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031055Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5017
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 3485
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0445

UNCLAS MADRID 000725

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS (AARON COPE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SP EAID PHUM BM
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS ON SHAPING POST-CYCLONE ASSISTANCE
IN BURMA

REF: SECSTATE 68527

1. (SBU) On July 2, 2008, Poloff discussed reftel with
Spanish MFA Deputy Director General for the Pacific,
Southeast Asia and Philippines, Jose Luis Garcia Galan.
Poloff stressed the importance of continued international
insistence on access, transparency and accountability of
humanitarian assistance and that such assistance must not
reinforce or perpetuate the Burmese regime's human rights
abuses or economic mismanagement.

2. (SBU) Garcia said the GOS agrees with the United States
regarding the need for accountability and added that European
sanctions have proven efficient and effective. Garcia said
the GOS will continue to work with Europe on this issue and
is working within Spain to increase public awareness and
Spain's profile in the region. To this end, Garcia said the
GOS has begun working on a program to aid refugees in
Thailand and anticipates such aid will benefit the Burmese
refugees on the Thailand border as well. Garcia returned
from Beijing July 1, having attended the fifth Asia-Europe
Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) meeting. According to
Garcia, post-cyclone assistance in Burma was discussed
generally (not a formal agenda item) and will be on the 7th
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit's agenda, scheduled for
October 2008.
AGUIRRE

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