US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1776

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001776 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EFIN, PREL, NL 
SUBJECT: HAITI: PROSPECTIVE EC ASSISTANCE, DUTCH 
PARTICIPATION 
 
REF: A. THE HAGUE 1742 
 
     B. SECSTATE 151661 
     C. SECSTATE 151861 
 
1)  Following up on A/S Tony Wayne's appeal to Dutch Director for Latin 
America and the Caribbean for pledges and participation in the Haiti 
donors conference (ref A), on July 14 econoff delivered ref B and C 
demarches to Peter van de Geer, Director of Caribbean Affairs. Van de G 
responded that the European Commission EC had roughly 150 million Euros 
frozen Article 96 funds for Haiti.  The EC would unfreeze roughly 50-70 
million Euros (the 7th, 8th and 9th "B-envelope" development funds) 
between now and the Haitian elections expected in 2005. The remainder ( 
9th "A-envelope" funds) would be released after successful elections. 
de Geer could not say if any funds would be released in time for the 
donors conference, referring us to the Commission on questions of timin 
He confirmed that Wim Geerts, the Dutch DCM in Washington, would repres 
the GONL at the conference. 
 
2)  Van de Geer described the internal negotiations around how much and 
when the EC would release Article 96 money.  He said that member states 
worries about good governance and Haitian absorptive capacity trumped 
French efforts to have more money released sooner. In the end, the Dutc 
brokered an agreement that reflected "the majority" of the member state 
wishes. 
 
3)  Van de Geer stressed that conference organizers should give promine 
to plans for improved governance, institution building and free 
elections.  During discussions in Brussels Van de Geer heard cynicism f 
journalists and certain member state colleagues regarding Haiti's abili 
to overcome its disappointing recent past.  The feeling was, he said, t 
time around "things need to be done better." 
SOBEL