NEW ZEALAND: US-EU INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000454 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR NEA/IR, EUR/ERA AND EAP/ANP E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID EIND ECON IZ NZ EUN SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND: US-EU INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ REF: (A) WELLINGTON 450; (B) STATE 103222; (C) WELLINGTON 428; (D) STATE 94861; (E) STATE 93742 ¶1. (U) Post on June 8 delivered ref B demarche. Post learned June 9 that the New Zealand government has decided to allocate NZ $2 million (US $1.4 million) for Iraqi reconstruction for the fiscal year 2005-6 (ref A). The government has not yet decided which programs will be funded by that allocation. ¶2. (SBU) At this time, the New Zealand government plans to send its ambassador to Brussels, Wade Armstrong, as its representative to the June 22 U.S.-EU International Conference on Iraq. According to Foreign Minister Goff's office, because of his recent travel overseas and the coming national elections, the foreign minister will not be able to attend the conference (ref C). Other senior ministers also are not available. SWINDELLS