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