NETHERLANDS: DEMARCHE ON THE OSLO DONORS

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000831 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UBI/HOLLIDAY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID ECON NL SU SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: DEMARCHE ON THE OSLO DONORS CONFERENCE ON SUDAN, APRIL 11-12 REF: SECSTATE 56724 ¶1. Econ officer delivered reftel demarche points to Stella Kloth, Sudan desk officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kloth responded that Minister of Development Assistance Agnes van Ardenne would be leading the Dutch delegation to the Oslo conference, but was not able to inform post of any potential Dutch pledges. ¶2. Minister van Ardenne has taken a personal interest in Darfur and the North-South peace agreement. On March 31 she will make her second trip to Sudan in three months (she also attended the peace agreement signing in January 2005). Between March 31 and April 3 Minister van Ardenne will visit Darfur and urge the government and rebels to resume peace talks in Abuja. She will also meet with AU and GOS officials in Khartoum. ¶3. The Dutch report that in 2004 the Netherlands contributed 54.2 million Euros (USD 67.6 million) for the Darfur crisis and North-South peace process. In 2005 the GONL has budgeted 23 million Euros (USD 29 million) for humanitarian assistance. The Dutch and UK have recently opened joint offices in Rumbek, which will transfer to Juba when the South Sudanese government moves there. The Dutch are considering expanding aid to the South next year. RUSSEL