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