Cablegate: Netherlands Supports Mass Graves Projects in Iraq

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

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002063

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DRL FOR JOANNA LEVISON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM PHUM IZ UK NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS SUPPORTS MASS GRAVES PROJECTS IN IRAQ

REF: A. SECSTATE 236766
B. WITMER-LEVINSON EMAILS 8/12

1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 3.

2. (SBU) The GoNL is supportive of the mass graves projects
in Iraq outlined in reftel. PolOff met with Adri van Lookpik,
head of the MFA's Gulf States Section, on August 15 to review
ref A requests. Per ref B, PolOff noted that if the Danes
and Finns provide site-assessment teams as promised, the
Dutch commitment for a site assessment team will likely be
unnecessary. However, the USG needs Dutch support in the
exhumation phase of the project. Van Loopik stated that the
GoNL agrees in principle to provide support for the CPA's
exhumation phase. He will contact the Ministry of the
Interior's Catastrophic Identification Team (CIT) to confirm
what personnel and resources it would be available to commit
in September. According to van Loopik, the CIT, which has
worked in the former Yugoslavia and Peru, previously
expressed interest in assisting in Iraq.

3. (SBU) Action request: The GoNL would like information on
the proposed personnel make-up of the exhumation phase teams,
as well as what tools/resources will be required. Post
kindly requests such information to be sent via email to
witmerka@state.gov.

4. (SBU) Note: If the Danish and Finnish teams are unable
to commit their site assessment teams, the GoNL will work to
fulfill its previous commitment. Until provided in reftel,
Van Loopik did not have specifications for a site-assessment
team. He was therefore unable to provide a time frame for
the mobilization of a Dutch site assessment team. Per ref B,
the Dutch focus will now be on staffing an exhumation phase
team. End Note.
SOBEL

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