Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARAMARIBO736
2005-11-14 17:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR RAISES ARTICLE 98 WITH NEW FOREIGN
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000736
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG AND L/PM TMITCHELL
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/15
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR EAID NS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES ARTICLE 98 WITH NEW FOREIGN
MINISTER TO NO IMMEDIATE REACTION
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000736
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG AND L/PM TMITCHELL
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/15
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR EAID NS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES ARTICLE 98 WITH NEW FOREIGN
MINISTER TO NO IMMEDIATE REACTION
1. (U) During a November 10 meeting with Suriname's
recently installed Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Lygia
Kraag-Keteldijk, the Ambassador emphasized the USG's
ongoing desire to sign an Article 98 agreement with
Suriname, clarified possible points of misunderstanding,
and provided sample agreements. The Minister appeared
familiar with the subject, but gave no immediate indication
as to what the Government of Suriname's (GOS) intentions
are.
2. (C) In a follow-up conversation on November 14, a MFA
official with responsibility for legal affairs at the
Americas desk told POLOFF that before making a decision on
signing an Article 98 agreement, the GOS would first decide
on whether to join the ICC. He expects internal GOS
discussions on subscribing to the ICC to intensify early
next year after the conclusion of upcoming parliamentary
budget deliberations. The official gave his personal
opinion that if the GOS decides to join the ICC, his
government would have little problem with signing an
Article 98 agreement with the U.S. afterwards.
3. (C) COMMENT: The Americas' desk official is not in a
decision-making position, and his personal opinions should
be taken as just that. However, his opinion suggests that
at least some within the MFA believe signing an Article 98
agreement is not at odds with the Rome Treaty, despite
European Union attempts to convince the GOS otherwise.
Post will continue to emphasize that signing an Article 98
agreement independent of action on the ICC removes possible
perception that the Article 98 decision was taken under
pressure. The suggestion that no decision on the ICC or
Article 98 until next year is typical of GOS practice of
postponing difficult decisions for as long as possible.
Barnes
NNNN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG AND L/PM TMITCHELL
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/15
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR EAID NS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES ARTICLE 98 WITH NEW FOREIGN
MINISTER TO NO IMMEDIATE REACTION
1. (U) During a November 10 meeting with Suriname's
recently installed Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Lygia
Kraag-Keteldijk, the Ambassador emphasized the USG's
ongoing desire to sign an Article 98 agreement with
Suriname, clarified possible points of misunderstanding,
and provided sample agreements. The Minister appeared
familiar with the subject, but gave no immediate indication
as to what the Government of Suriname's (GOS) intentions
are.
2. (C) In a follow-up conversation on November 14, a MFA
official with responsibility for legal affairs at the
Americas desk told POLOFF that before making a decision on
signing an Article 98 agreement, the GOS would first decide
on whether to join the ICC. He expects internal GOS
discussions on subscribing to the ICC to intensify early
next year after the conclusion of upcoming parliamentary
budget deliberations. The official gave his personal
opinion that if the GOS decides to join the ICC, his
government would have little problem with signing an
Article 98 agreement with the U.S. afterwards.
3. (C) COMMENT: The Americas' desk official is not in a
decision-making position, and his personal opinions should
be taken as just that. However, his opinion suggests that
at least some within the MFA believe signing an Article 98
agreement is not at odds with the Rome Treaty, despite
European Union attempts to convince the GOS otherwise.
Post will continue to emphasize that signing an Article 98
agreement independent of action on the ICC removes possible
perception that the Article 98 decision was taken under
pressure. The suggestion that no decision on the ICC or
Article 98 until next year is typical of GOS practice of
postponing difficult decisions for as long as possible.
Barnes
NNNN