WikiLeaks: NZ will not attend Iraq Dead Sea donors' meeting

July 15, 2005 NZ will not attend Dead Sea donors' meeting on Iraq

SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND WILL NOT ATTEND DEAD SEA DONORS' MEETING ON IRAQ

REF: A. SECSTATE 127710 B. WELLINGTON

Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Katherine B. Hadda, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (SBU) Post shared reftel information regarding the Dead Sea Donor's meeting with Darryl Dunn, Director and Ruth Nuttall, Deputy Director, of the Middle East and Africa Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). On July 14, Nuttall informed Pol-Econ Couns that unfortunately New Zealand would not be able to attend the meeting.

2. (SBU) Nuttall said that she strongly believed New Zealand should attend the conference, but NZAID, the lead agency on the issue, had neither the time nor resources to do so. As Nuttall had attended the recent US-EU-Iraq conference in Brussels, she was similarly constrained. GNZ officials had looked into several other options, such as fielding a candidate from a European or MidEast post, but none could be spared. Pol-Econ Couns suggested Embassy Wellington brief NZ officials on the outcome of the conference, and Nuttall eagerly agreed.

3. (C) MFAT's Chief Executive Officer Simon Murdoch (close hold) has told post that GNZ is looking for ways to increase its involvement in Iraq. Officials are currently reviewing options.

4. (U) For a summary of New Zealand's past and planned Iraq reconstruction assistance to to date, see Ref B. A break-down of GMZ's assistance has also been forwarded via e-mail to EAP/ANP Thomas Ramsey. Swindells

ENDS