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