US embassy cable - 05PARAMARIBO736

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000736 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG AND L/PM TMITCHELL 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/15 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MARR, EAID, NS, Article 98 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES ARTICLE 98 WITH NEW FOREIGN 
         MINISTER TO NO IMMEDIATE REACTION 
 
 
1.  (U) During a November 10 meeting with Suriname's 
recently installed Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Lygia 
Kraag-Keteldijk, the Ambassador emphasized the USG's 
ongoing desire to sign an Article 98 agreement with 
Suriname, clarified possible points of misunderstanding, 
and provided sample agreements.  The Minister appeared 
familiar with the subject, but gave no immediate indication 
as to what the Government of Suriname's (GOS) intentions 
are. 
 
2. (C) In a follow-up conversation on November 14, a MFA 
official with responsibility for legal affairs at the 
Americas desk told POLOFF that before making a decision on 
signing an Article 98 agreement, the GOS would first decide 
on whether to join the ICC.  He expects internal GOS 
discussions on subscribing to the ICC to intensify early 
next year after the conclusion of upcoming parliamentary 
budget deliberations.  The official gave his personal 
opinion that if the GOS decides to join the ICC, his 
government would have little problem with signing an 
Article 98 agreement with the U.S. afterwards. 
 
3. (C) COMMENT: The Americas' desk official is not in a 
decision-making position, and his personal opinions should 
be taken as just that.  However, his opinion suggests that 
at least some within the MFA believe signing an Article 98 
agreement is not at odds with the Rome Treaty, despite 
European Union attempts to convince the GOS otherwise. 
Post will continue to emphasize that signing an Article 98 
agreement independent of action on the ICC removes possible 
perception that the Article 98 decision was taken under 
pressure.  The suggestion that no decision on the ICC or 
Article 98 until next year is typical of GOS practice of 
postponing difficult decisions for as long as possible. 
 
Barnes 
 
 
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