NETHERLANDS/SUDAN: DUTCH CAUTIOUS ON PROPOSED IPF

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001628 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL SU NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SUDAN: DUTCH CAUTIOUS ON PROPOSED IPF MINISTERIAL REF: A. A. SECSTATE 116955 ¶B. B. AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1499 ¶1. (SBU) On September 4, 2007, poloff raised reftel A points with Mr. Alle Dorhout, Chief of the Horn of Africa and West Africa Division at the MFA's Sub-Saharan Africa Department. Dorhout, on his second day on the job, expressed cautious interest in the proposed Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Partners' Forum (IPF) ministerial. He promised a more official reaction after consulting with his staff. He noted that his boss, Dr. Wepke Kingma, was habitually skeptical of additional conferences and ministerials without results (reftel B). ¶2. (SBU) Subsequently, Mr. Huub Buise, who works for Doorhout and covers the Horn of Africa, agreed that it would be a worthwhile message to reaffirm the importance of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement at the same time that we are trying to solve the Darfur crisis. However, a "ministerial without ministers" would be harmful, so the timing / location of the meeting is a key issue to ensure appropriate participation. Buise and Alle wondered about how this meeting might fit in with UN General Assembly schedule and the September 21 Sudan meeting. Gallagher