Cablegate: Iraq: Dutch Provide Military Cargo Aircraft For

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000014

SIPDIS

ROME FOR FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID IZ JO NL WFP
SUBJECT: IRAQ: DUTCH PROVIDE MILITARY CARGO AIRCRAFT FOR
UN/WFP OPERATIONS

REF: THE HAGUE 3060

1. The Netherlands will deploy one Dutch Air Force Fokker
"60" transport aircraft and a 20-man crew to the UN
Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), part of the World Food
Program (WFP). The plane and crew will be based in Amman for
use in operations in Iraq. It will be available February 1
to August 1, 2004 and will ferry humanitarian supplies and
staff to Basra, Erbil, and Baghdad. The Dutch offer follows
a similar arrangement whereby Belgium provided a transport
aircraft for a period of six months. (Note: Separately, the
Dutch military has approximately 1100 personnel serving in
Iraq as part of the UK-led Multi-national Division SE. End
Note.)

2. In a December 19 letter to parliament informing
members of the cabinet's decision, Dutch Minister for
Development Cooperation Agnes Van Ardenne and MOD Henk Kamp
state that the GONL values a stronger role for the UN in
Iraq. The letter notes that the UN's drawdown in Iraq has
severely hampered humanitarian operations, and that through
the aircraft loan, the Netherlands hopes to strengthen the
program and provide better access to Iraq for UN staff.
While the Dutch will coordinate with the UN security
coordinator, the Dutch will have responsibility for the
flightroutes and the aircraft.
RUSSEL

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