Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE744
2007-04-20 14:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
ICI SIGNING: DUTCH LIKELY TO ATTEND BUT OFFER NO
how-toVZCZCXRO2103 PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHTC #0744 1101413 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 201413Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8927 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0471 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4262 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000744
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/I (KTAECKER)
STATE ALSO FOR EUR/UBI (RREITER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UN EAID EFIN PGOV PREL NL
SUBJECT: ICI SIGNING: DUTCH LIKELY TO ATTEND BUT OFFER NO
NEW PLEDGES
REF: A. STATE 47346
B. 06 THE HAGUE 2424
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE
ACCORDINGLY.
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000744
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/I (KTAECKER)
STATE ALSO FOR EUR/UBI (RREITER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UN EAID EFIN PGOV PREL NL
SUBJECT: ICI SIGNING: DUTCH LIKELY TO ATTEND BUT OFFER NO
NEW PLEDGES
REF: A. STATE 47346
B. 06 THE HAGUE 2424
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE
ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) Summary. The Dutch are committed to supporting
Iraqi reform, economic development, and reconstruction, but
do not plan a pledge at the International Compact with Iraq
(ICI) signing, Dutch officials say. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Econoff delivered on April 16 ref A demarche
regarding support for Iraq under the ICI to Nicole Bollen,
Coordinator of Debt Issues in the Ministry of Finance and
also Dutch representative to the Paris Club and Chair of the
OECD Export Credits Group, and Dirk Jan Wierenga, Iraq Desk
Officer, Gulf States Division, North Africa and Middle East
Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
3. (SBU) In a subsequent discussion April 19, Wierenga, who
wrote the decision memo for Foreign Minister Verhagen on
Dutch participation in ICI, said his four recommendations
were: first, that the Dutch attend ICI to show solidarity
with the Iraqis and demonstrate GONL commitment; second,
that the Dutch offer no new pledges but use the event to
learn how ICI will work and how to help -- and possibly
pledge -- in the future; third, that the Dutch continue
their current reconstruction efforts; and lastly, that MFA
Director for North Africa and Middle East Department
Henriette van Lynden-Leijten lead the Dutch delegation.
Wierenga predicted Verhagen would accept all four
recommendations.
4. (SBU) On possible financial support to Iraq, both
officials confirmed GONL is already reducing Iraqi debt by 80
percent in line with Paris Club terms and does not plan
further reductions (ref B). The Iraqis will make their first
payment to the Dutch in 2009, Wierenga said, and the GONL
will re-evaluate the situation at that time. By then, debt
relief may not be the best solution, as financing new
activities in capacity building may be better options if the
Iraqi budget is stable.
5. (SBU) Wierenga said current and past reconstruction and
assistance efforts included providing $15 million to the
International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq,
providing 15 military personnel as part of a NATO training
mission in Baghdad, and training Iraqi judges, police,
investigators, and Iraqi MFA personnel. The GONL continues
to push the EU Commission to make commitments and increase
its support to Iraq, he said.
ARNALL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/I (KTAECKER)
STATE ALSO FOR EUR/UBI (RREITER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UN EAID EFIN PGOV PREL NL
SUBJECT: ICI SIGNING: DUTCH LIKELY TO ATTEND BUT OFFER NO
NEW PLEDGES
REF: A. STATE 47346
B. 06 THE HAGUE 2424
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE
ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) Summary. The Dutch are committed to supporting
Iraqi reform, economic development, and reconstruction, but
do not plan a pledge at the International Compact with Iraq
(ICI) signing, Dutch officials say. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Econoff delivered on April 16 ref A demarche
regarding support for Iraq under the ICI to Nicole Bollen,
Coordinator of Debt Issues in the Ministry of Finance and
also Dutch representative to the Paris Club and Chair of the
OECD Export Credits Group, and Dirk Jan Wierenga, Iraq Desk
Officer, Gulf States Division, North Africa and Middle East
Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
3. (SBU) In a subsequent discussion April 19, Wierenga, who
wrote the decision memo for Foreign Minister Verhagen on
Dutch participation in ICI, said his four recommendations
were: first, that the Dutch attend ICI to show solidarity
with the Iraqis and demonstrate GONL commitment; second,
that the Dutch offer no new pledges but use the event to
learn how ICI will work and how to help -- and possibly
pledge -- in the future; third, that the Dutch continue
their current reconstruction efforts; and lastly, that MFA
Director for North Africa and Middle East Department
Henriette van Lynden-Leijten lead the Dutch delegation.
Wierenga predicted Verhagen would accept all four
recommendations.
4. (SBU) On possible financial support to Iraq, both
officials confirmed GONL is already reducing Iraqi debt by 80
percent in line with Paris Club terms and does not plan
further reductions (ref B). The Iraqis will make their first
payment to the Dutch in 2009, Wierenga said, and the GONL
will re-evaluate the situation at that time. By then, debt
relief may not be the best solution, as financing new
activities in capacity building may be better options if the
Iraqi budget is stable.
5. (SBU) Wierenga said current and past reconstruction and
assistance efforts included providing $15 million to the
International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq,
providing 15 military personnel as part of a NATO training
mission in Baghdad, and training Iraqi judges, police,
investigators, and Iraqi MFA personnel. The GONL continues
to push the EU Commission to make commitments and increase
its support to Iraq, he said.
ARNALL