NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: BOOK CLOSED ON IRAQI NATIONAL

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002544 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM IZ NL XG XT SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: BOOK CLOSED ON IRAQI NATIONAL BUREAU OF MISSING PERSONS FUNDING ISSUE REF: A. STATE 152019 ¶B. THAT HAGUE 2252 ¶C. TRAUB-STATE E-MAILS OF 8/18/05 AND PREVIOUS THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) Per refs, post orally advised the Dutch MFA on August 18 that the State Department had authorized the return of a 300,000 Euro grant from the Dutch government to support the establishment of an Iraqi Bureau of Missing Persons (project POBB8817). After verifying that the funds had been transferred to the appropriate Dutch bank account, Post sent written confirmation of the transfer, along with a brief written clarification of the status of the project (as requested by the MFA),to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 25. On September 19, Post received a letter from the director of the Dutch MFA's Department of Political Affairs confirming receipt of the funds in full and declaring the project closed. (Text of letter follows in para 2.) Post anticipates no further action on this issue. ¶2. (SBU) Text of Letter from Pim Dumore', Director Political Affairs Department for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to The Hague POLCOUNS Andrew Schofer: Begin Text Dear Mr. Schofer, I would like to thank you for your letter dated August 25 and attached memorandum, providing an explanation regarding the Euro 300,000 granted by the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in December 2003 towards the setting up of an Iraqi National Bureau of Missing Persons (POBB8817). As you indicated in your letter, the money was returned by the Department of State to the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I am pleased to confirm that the money was received this week. Therefore, with this letter, this project has been closed. Please be aware that I share the regret as convey in the memorandum on the impossibility of carrying out this project as foreseen. The very difficult circumstances in Iraq played no small role in this. Both our governments are and remain committed to altering those circumstances for the benefit of the people of Iraq. With kind regards, Pim Dumore Director, Political Affairs Department For the Minister of Foreign Affairs End Text BLAKEMAN