Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04THEHAGUE1816
2004-07-19 18:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

HAITI:PROSPECTIVE EC ASSISTANCE, DUTCH

Tags:  EAID EFIN PREL NL 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

191843Z Jul 04
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001816 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN PREL NL
SUBJECT: HAITI:PROSPECTIVE EC ASSISTANCE, DUTCH
PARTICIPATION

REF: A. THE HAGUE 1742


B. SECSTATE 151661

C. SECSTATE 151861
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001816

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN PREL NL
SUBJECT: HAITI:PROSPECTIVE EC ASSISTANCE, DUTCH
PARTICIPATION

REF: A. THE HAGUE 1742


B. SECSTATE 151661

C. SECSTATE 151861

1) Following up on A/S Tony Wayne's appeal to Dutch Director
for Latin America and the Caribbean for pledges and
participation in the Haiti donors conference (ref A),on July
14 econoff delivered ref B and C demarches to Peter van de
Geer, Director of Caribbean Affairs. Van de Geer responded
that the European Commission EC had roughly 150 million Euros
in frozen Article 96 funds for Haiti. The EC would unfreeze
roughly 50-70 million Euros (the 7th, 8th and 9th
"B-envelope" development funds) between now and the Haitian
elections expected in 2005. The remainder (the 9th
"A-envelope" funds) would be released after successful
elections. Van de Geer could not say if any funds would be
released in time for the donors conference, referring us to
the Commission on questions of timing. He confirmed that Wim
Geerts, the Dutch DCM in Washington, would represent the GONL
at the conference.

2) Van de Geer described the internal negotiations around
how much and when the EC would release Article 96 money. He
said that member states' worries about good governance and
Haitian absorptive capacity trumped French efforts to have
more money released sooner. In the end, the Dutch brokered an
agreement that reflected "the majority" of the member states'
wishes.

3) Van de Geer stressed that conference organizers should
give prominence to plans for improved governance, institution
building and free elections. During discussions in Brussels
Van de Geer heard cynicism from journalists and certain
member state colleagues regarding Haiti's ability to overcome
its disappointing recent past. The feeling was, he said,
this time around "things need to be done better."
SOBEL