NZ UPDATES ON IRAQ COMPACT SIGNING AND REFUGEE

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000367 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/I, EAP/FO AND EAP/ANP OSD FOR ISD JESSICA POWERS PACOM FOR J01E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN PREL PGOV UN IZ NZ SUBJECT: NZ UPDATES ON IRAQ COMPACT SIGNING AND REFUGEE ASSISTANCE REF: A. WELLINGTON 290 ¶B. WELLINGTON 315 ¶C. STATE 40708 ¶D. STATE 46243 ¶1. (U) Ref A reported that Embassy Wellington had asked NZ officials whether New Zealand would participate in the signing of the Iraq Compact. On May 1, Darryl Dunn, Director of the Mideast Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, told Pol-Econ Couns that PM Clark has approved New Zealand support for the Iraq Compact. The NZ Ambassador in Cairo, Rene Wilson, will sign (or signal support in whatever way is preferred) at the May 3 Compact meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh. ¶2. (U) Ref B reported that the GNZ was considering increasing financial assistance to Iraqi refugees. On April 30, Foreign Minister Peters announced that New Zealand will give NZD million (about USD 750k) to the UN refugee agency UNHCR to assist Iraqis displaced within Iraq as well as those who have fled to neighboring countries. Post has sent the complete text of Peters' statement to EAP/ANP's Kelly McKellogg and Tom Vajda. McCormick