Tal
Rangoon, Burma 25 maj 2008
Gunilla Carlsson, Biståndsminister

Anförande vid givarkonferensen för Burma den 25 maj

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Tropical cyclone Nargis resulted in severe loss of life and material devastation. The Swedish Government offers its sincere condolences to the people of Burma/Myanmar, and commends the UN and ASEAN for co-sponsoring this conference.

We are all here today out of solidarity with the victims of the cyclone. Our objective has to be the prevention of further loss of life and alleviation of further suffering. The realization of this objective presupposes partnership, effective cooperation and sound co-ordination.

Firstly - partnership. Sweden fully supports the efforts by the UN, ASEAN countries, humanitarian organisations and the international community as a whole to provide emergency assistance. The swift and substantial contributions of the European Commission and the various EU Member States give ample proof the Union's determination to contribute.

Secondly - co-operation. I urge the authorities of Burma/Myanmar to remove all obstacles to the effective delivery of humanitarian relief to the affected regions. Providing relief to all the affected people remains our priority.

I welcome the commitment by the Government to the Secretary-General to allow access for international aid workers into the areas affected by cyclone Nargis. The realization of this commitment is contingent upon a number of conditions being met; including expanded humanitarian access.

Thirdly - co-ordination. Major importance should be attached to securing a co-ordinated and effective international response. Sweden therefore fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General to address this severe humanitarian crisis. We welcome the leadership of the Secretary General, his Emergency Relief Coordinator and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has shown in securing an international response to the crisis.

Sweden welcomes ASEAN's resolve, as well as the efforts of other neighbouring countries, to expedite assistance to those in need. Sweden welcomes the decision of our ASEAN partners swiftly to establish an effective co-ordinating and aid delivery mechanism, in co-operation with the UN and other donors. We note the key importance that the effective co-operation of the authorities in Burma/Myanmar will play in this respect.

Sweden will work with partners to secure concrete outcomes of this Conference - in particular to ensure efficient and prompt delivery of available humanitarian assistance and expertise to all those in need, but also to mobilize further assistance.

My country has already provided 3,5 million USD in humanitarian assistance in direct response to this disaster. To this should be added the substantial Swedish share of the 20 million USD contribution from the Central Emergency Response Fund. We expect humanitarian access for international assistance and aid workers now drastically improve. This will enable rigorous needs assessment to go ahead. Sweden plans to scale up its funding substantially as the humanitarian operating environment improves.

The disaster that has struck Burma/Myanmar is an example of a common challenge that can only be overcome through international co-operation in a spirit of openness. The disaster and ensuing developments also underline the central importance of the ability to freely share and spread information between and within nations. The free flow of information is, in fact, conducive to both disaster preparedness and disaster relief.

Thank you.