LIBERIA: DUTCH WILL CONTRIBUTE EURO 500,000 FOR

1. (S) Summary: The GoNL plans to contribute euro 500,000
via ECOWAS to Mali to support Mali's military contribution to
an ECOWAS force in Liberia. Such financial support will be
dependent upon a "believable arrangement" that Taylor will
leave country and will not be absolved of his war crimes
indictment from the Special Court for Sierra Leone. The
Dutch are also prepared to donate euro 500,000 for
humanitarian assistance via UN and/or established
humanitarian organizations once stability is reached. Dutch
military support is unlikely. End Summary.



2. (S) PolOff and DATT delivered reftel to MFA Marc
Bentinck, MFA Division head for Conflict Prevention, Peace
Operations, and Military and Civil Cooperation, and R. van
der Veen, Deputy Director for West Africa. Bentinck stated
the Government of Mali recently approached the GoNL, asking
for financial support of Mali's military contribution to an
ECOWAS mission. The GoNL is prepared to donate euro 500,000
to fulfill this request. However, the Dutch insist that the
contribution go through ECOWAS. To date, the GoNL has
not/not received a formal request from ECOWAS. Upon receipt
of such request, the Dutch could provide funding within a
matter of days. Van der Veen said that the GoNL will attach
two conditions to its contribution. Taylor must leave, or
there must be a "believable arrangement" that he will depart
country. Secondly, his departure cannot include any
arrangement that would negate his indictment for war crimes
under the Special Court for Sierra Leone.



3. (S) Due to participation in other overseas military
operations and defense budget cuts, Bentinck does not
anticipate a GoNL military contribution to an international
coalition of peacekeeping forces in Liberia at this time.
(Note: Post concurs with this assessment; military support
from the Dutch is unlikely.) He will, nevertheless, discuss
options within the GoNL. Bentinck was open to the DATT's
suggestion to at least consider providing airlift support on
an ad-hoc basis in the future.



4. (S) The Dutch have set aside euro 500,000 for
humanitarian assistance for Liberia. It is prepared to
contribute such funds via UN or other established
humanitarian agencies once the situation on the ground is
stable. Van der Veen commented that additional financial
assistance might be possible in the future.
RUSSEL