DUTCH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO GUATEMALA OAS OBSERVER

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002291 SIPDIS SENSITIVE EUR/UBI, WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL GT NL OAS SUBJECT: DUTCH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO GUATEMALA OAS OBSERVER MISSION REF: STATE 259220 ¶1. (SBU) The Dutch plan to contribute approximately USD 100,000 to the OAS Electoral Observer Mission in Guatemala, confirming the information in ref A. On September 11, Lucie de Zwaan of the MFA Western Hemisphere Division informed EconOff of the intended contribution, but asked that the USG not/not disseminate this information before the Netherlands has a chance to formally notify the OAS directly, which it will do in the next few days. The Dutch also expect to participate in some form in the European election observers mission, although the Ministry had no further details on this. ¶2. (U) De Zwaan said Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation Agnes Van Ardenne alluded to possible Dutch financial support for the election observer mission during her September 10 visit to Guatemala City. During her trip, Van Ardenne met the Guatemalan Foreign Minister, spoke to the "Groupo Dialogo," and conferred with members of the international donors group. She also surveyed the mass graves project and spoke with a group identified as the "National Forests Council." ¶3. (U) A coalition of Dutch NGOs interested in Guatemala recently met with Piet de Klerk, the new director of the MFA's Human Rights Division. They urged him to ask the UN to release its report on Guatemala and underlined the need to support the country's democratic process. SOBEL