Cablegate: Netherlands/Mfo: Dubious About Additional

VZCZCXYZ0030
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #1322 1911354
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101354Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9786
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 1714
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 4091
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 9386
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0102
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 6659
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 1872
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1711
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 5045
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4979
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1352
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 2197
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 4686
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 2889
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1769
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 0679

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001322

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EUR/UBI, NEA/RA (J. SHAUNFIELD)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMFO PREL XT IS IT JA EG NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/MFO: DUBIOUS ABOUT ADDITIONAL
CONTRIBUTION, CITING FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS

REF: STATE 94985

1. (SBU) On July 10, Poloff discussed reftel with Roger van
Laak, Senior Policy Advisor at the Dutch MFA's Department of
Middle East and North African Affairs, thanking the Dutch for
their prior contributions to the Multinational Force and
Observers (MFO). In response to reftel points regarding
additional contributions to support the purchase of fifteen
fully armored vehicles (FAVs), van Laak was dubious, citing
"stretched financial means" as the likely reason why the
Dutch will not provide additional support at this time. He
intends to raise the issue when Director General Larocco
visits The Hague on July 20-21, but anticipates that it
"might be difficult" to overcome budgetary constraints to
garner support for additional contributions.

GALLAGHER

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