US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS5427

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 005427 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR TASK FORCE 1 AND EUR/ERA; DEPARTMENT PLEASE 
PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, PREL, IN, CE, TH, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: TFX001: EC ON DONOR COORDINATION AND ASSISTANCE TO 
TSUNAMI VICTIMS 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
REF: BRUSSELS 5408 
 
1. (U) Summary: The EU will meet in Luxembourg on January 7 
to coordinate its response to the tsunami in Asia.  On the 
agenda is the advisability of an international donor 
conference.  Commissioner Louis Michel may visit Sri Lanka 
before this meeting to assess the situation.  The European 
Commission (EC) expects to make its second decision by the 
end of the week, making an additional 10 million euros 
available mostly for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.  Future 
decisions should favor Indonesia, although the EC is 
concerned about access to key affected areas in Aceh.  EC 
coordination for humanitarian assistance with the UN and the 
U.S. is good.  End Summary. 
 
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International Conference? 
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2. (U) On December 29, a Directorate General Development 
official confirmed to us the accuracy of press articles 
reporting that Commissioner Louis Michel may call for an 
international donor conference to discuss the tsunami 
response.  Michel will raise the need for such a conference 
with Development Ministers from EU Members States on January 
7 at an informal meeting called by the incoming-Luxembourg 
Presidency to take place in Luxembourg.  EU Ministers will 
also take stock of Member State responses and discuss ways to 
ensure a smooth transition between relief efforts in the 
affected areas and longer-term rehabilitation and 
reconstruction. 
 
3. (U) The official stated that Michel may/may travel to Sri 
Lanka on or about January 5, although no final decision has 
been made.   Although the EC would like to show its concern 
for the region by such a visit, they do not want to distract 
from the relief efforts by placing an undue burden on the Sri 
Lankan authorities.  Another option would be to wait until 
the initial response has been concluded before Michel visits. 
 
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Assistance 
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4. (U) ECHO told us that most of the EC,s pledge of 30 
million euros will go to Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the 
Maldives.  Although ECHO has evaluation teams currently in 
Sri Lanka and Indonesia, their reports are not expected to be 
completed before ECHO makes its next decision for tsunami 
relief.  Our interlocutor expressed concern that Indonesia 
had delayed access in the Aceh area and noted specific 
problems with access to the islands of Andaman and Nicobar. 
Regarding Thailand, the ECHO official said that EU Member 
States would be more active donors than the EC (in part, 
because so many European tourists were affected in that 
country).  The official also noted that Thailand has more of 
its own financial resources and is less dependent on 
international aid.  Regarding India, the official said that 
in the past it has not welcomed EC aid, and that India was 
assisting Sri Lanka and the Maldives. 
 
5. (U) An ECHO desk officer explained that the EC,s 
immediate humanitarian response of 30 million euros will be 
disbursed in tranches of up to 10 million euros each.  A 
decision on the first tranche of 10 million euros is expected 
before the end of the week and will focus primarily on Sri 
Lanka.  About ten to twelve pre-cleared implementing partners 
will be listed, of which seven or eight should be selected. 
To date, ECHO has received only one proposal, but has seen a 
number of concept papers.  UNICEF is expected to present a 
proposal for the Maldives.  ECHO said the EC plans to contact 
Indian authorities to ask whether assistance would be 
welcome. 
 
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Coordination 
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6. (U) The EC has not publicly reacted to Jan Egeland,s 
remark about "stingy" donors.  In general, ECHO has an 
excellent relationship with OCHA.  ECHO also cited good 
experience working with UNICEF in Sri Lanka.  Our 
interlocutor remarked that OCHA has been quite active and 
somewhat faster to react to the present crisis than to the 
July flooding in Bangladesh. 
 
7. (U) USEU is actively engaged in coordinating donor 
response with EC interlocutors.  ECHO has been particularly 
appreciative of the factual information published by 
USAID/OFDA, and this information will be used as they make 
future funding decisions.  The EC's Monitoring and 
Information Center has provided USEU with periodic updates, 
which have been forwarded via unclass email to the tsunami 
task force, EUR/ERA and USAID. 
 
McKINLEY