US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS4938

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 004938 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/ANE - KGELNER AND EAP/BCLTV; BANGKOK FOR 
REFCORD - MHONNOLD; USAID/RDM ASIA; GENEVA FOR RMA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2014 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, EAID, BM, PHUMPGOV, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: ECHO AWAITING GREEN LIGHT FOR BURMA PRESENCE 
 
REF: RANGOON 1421 
 
Classified By: PRMOFF MARC J. MEZNAR.  REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (SBU) Following up on reftel, PRMOff asked the European 
Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) about its plans to 
open an office in Burma.  Head of Unit for Asia/Americas Ruth 
Albuquerque confirmed the report and said that there was a 
need for in-country presence; she noted that about half of 
ECHO's aid goes to help ethnic minorities and other 
vulnerable people within Burma proper.  Albuquerque mentioned 
that aid to Burmese is one of ECHO's fastest growing programs 
which has increased in size from about 2 million euros four 
years ago to about 12 million euros today.  ECHO-funded 
programs help combat malnutrition in the northern Rakhine 
state; ECHO also funds MSF to combat malaria and other 
diseases among ethnic minority communities in the 
northeastern part of the country and elsewhere by supplying 
medicines and improving water/sanitation systems. 
 
2. (U) The other half of ECHO funds assist Burmese refugees 
in camps along the Thai border.  Support to Burmese refugees 
in Bangladesh comes from  European Commission's (EC) Foreign 
Affairs (RELEX) "aid to uprooted people" funding line. 
 
3. (C) Albuquerque reported that the EC and Government of 
Myanmar had exchanged diplomatic notes regarding the proposed 
office, but that final approval by the Burmese was derailed 
by the recent, abrupt change in leadership.  She said the new 
people are completely unfamiliar with the humanitarian issues 
and that it may take a while before ECHO gets a green light 
to open the office.  In the meantime, ECHO has already 
undertaken a procedural mission to scope out logistics, 
including an office site.  According to ECHO Head of Unit for 
Multilateral Issues Michel Arrion, ECHO flatly turned down an 
invitation by the UK Embassy to be co-located with the 
British.  (Note.  UK Ambassador Vicky Bowman formerly was 
part of RELEX Commissioner Patten's cabinet in Brussels. End 
Note.)  He said it was important for ECHO's work to be viewed 
as clearly distinct from the political activities of the EU 
Member States. 
 
4. (C) Albuquerque said that RELEX is very supportive of 
ECHO's plan to open an office and had even considered having 
one of its own working out of the facility if opened.  This 
idea was rejected by ECHO, which is keen to underscore its 
neutrality and lack of ties to political considerations. 
Because of the EU Common Position on Burma, RELEX could not 
open its own office in Rangoon at this point, according to 
Albuquerque.  Nevertheless, the EC as a whole could benefit 
from having "eyes and ears" in Burma proper.  If ECHO opens 
an office it would be staffed with one international officer, 
one local technical expert and two administrative support 
persons.  The office would depend on ECHO/Bangkok for 
administrative support but would report directly to Brussels 
for policy and program decisions. 
 
MCKINLEY