AFGHANISTAN -- "ACCELERATING SUCCESS" DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002321 SIPDIS SA/AR, EUR/UBI E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2008 TAGS: EAID NL PREL AF EUN SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN -- "ACCELERATING SUCCESS" DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: A. STATE 258067 ¶B. STATE 244774 ¶C. THE HAGUE 02064 Classified By: DCM Daniel R. Russel for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On September 10, EconCouns and EconOff delivered ref A demarche to MFA South Asia Division Director Wilfred Mohr. Mohr did not specify what amount the Netherlands plans to contribute for 2004, but he predicted that levels would be lower than in the past two years due to tightening ODA budgets. The Netherlands has contributed EUR 70 million over the past two years to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) and Mohr expects the bulk of FY 04 funds also to be directed to the ARTF. The Dutch favor funding Afghan reconstruction through the ARTF because, in their words, it allows the Afghans to decide their own priorities. That notwithstanding, Mohr said the Dutch will likely continue bilateral support for the police academy, judicial training for the ANA, the mid-term budget review, and the electoral process. The MFA is considering using some of its "Stability Fund" (ref C) to cover its Afghanistan contributions. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. SOBEL