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