NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: RETURN OF DUTCH DONATION FOR IRAQ MISSING PERSONS ACTIVITIES

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002252 SIPDIS SENSITIVE EUR/UBI - EFALLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUMIZNL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: RETURN OF DUTCH DONATION FOR IRAQ MISSING PERSONS ACTIVITIES REF: A. STATE 137455 ¶B. TRAUB/FALLS EMAILS OF 8/10/05 AND PREVIOUS Sensitive but unclassified. Please treat accordingly. ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 4. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff met Dirk Klaasen and Sari Holthuis (MFA, Department of Political Affairs) and shared the detailed explanation and apology contained in reftel, regarding the unspent 300,000 grant from the Government of the Netherlands to support a project in conjunction with the Iraqi National Bureau of Missing Persons. The Dutch accepted the USG's explanation and apology and requested it be sent formally by letter, which the Embassy will do. The Dutch also asked that the 300,000 euro be returned to Rabobank Utrecht account number 192321994, with the notation "DPZ/Iraqi national bureau of missing persons grant number 8817." Poloff assured the Dutch that this would be done within two to three business days, as promised in reftel, by direct transfer from the Embassy. ¶3. (SBU) Looking to future collaborative projects, the Dutch Division for Middle East and Northern African Affairs is willing to consider funding new projects in Iraq in conjunction with the USG, perhaps again supporting missing persons activities. In this regard, they are studying various options informally discussed between Emboffs and the MFA, based on informal Department discussions with the Embassy in this regard. Klaasen emphasized that any new project would require careful planning, coordination, and follow through so as not to repeat the problems recently experienced with the current project. He noted the GoNL would not want to transfer a grant to the Iraqis directly, for accountability reasons, but would rather work with the USG to identify an executing partner agreeable to all sides. ¶4. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Embassy requests Department provide a fund cite for use in returning the 300,000 euro grant to the Dutch within two to three business days. SOBEL