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