US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE2544

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002544 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, IZ, NL, XG, XT 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: BOOK CLOSED ON IRAQI NATIONAL 
BUREAU OF MISSING PERSONS FUNDING ISSUE 
 
REF: A. STATE 152019 
 
     B. THAT HAGUE 2252 
     C. TRAUB-STATE E-MAILS OF 8/18/05 AND PREVIOUS 
 
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE 
ACCORDINGLY. 
 
1. (SBU)  Per refs, post orally advised the Dutch MFA on 
August 18 that the State Department had authorized the return 
of a 300,000 Euro grant from the Dutch government to support 
the establishment of an Iraqi Bureau of Missing Persons 
(project POBB8817).  After verifying that the funds had been 
transferred to the appropriate Dutch bank account, Post sent 
written confirmation of the transfer, along with a brief 
written clarification of the status of the project (as 
requested by the MFA), to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs on August 25.  On September 19, Post received a 
letter from the director of the Dutch MFA's Department of 
Political Affairs confirming receipt of the funds in full and 
declaring the project closed.  (Text of letter follows in 
para 2.)  Post anticipates no further action on this issue. 
2. (SBU) Text of Letter from Pim Dumore', Director Political 
Affairs Department for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to The 
Hague POLCOUNS Andrew Schofer: 
 
Begin Text 
 
Dear Mr. Schofer, 
 
I would like to thank you for your letter dated August 25 and 
attached memorandum, providing an explanation regarding the 
Euro 300,000 granted by the government of the Kingdom of the 
Netherlands in December 2003 towards the setting up of an 
Iraqi National Bureau of Missing Persons (POBB8817). 
 
As you indicated in your letter, the money was returned by 
the Department of State to the Netherlands Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs.  I am pleased to confirm that the money was 
received this week.  Therefore, with this letter, this 
project has been closed. 
 
Please be aware that I share the regret as convey in the 
memorandum on the impossibility of carrying out this project 
as foreseen.  The very difficult circumstances in Iraq played 
no small role in this.  Both our governments are and remain 
committed to altering those circumstances for the benefit of 
the people of Iraq. 
 
With kind regards, 
Pim Dumore 
Director, Political Affairs Department 
For the Minister of Foreign Affairs 
 
End Text 
 
BLAKEMAN