VZCZCXRO0701
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTC #1037 3541106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191106Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2359
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA 0127
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 5227
RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK 0043
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1414
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1816
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1419
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4511
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001037
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL NL NU
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/NICARAGUA: SUSPENDING BUDGET ASSISTANCE
REF: A. SECSTATE 132044
B. THE HAGUE 974
C. FALLS-KRAAIMORE EMAIL 12-18-08
Embassy delivered ref A points to the Dutch Foreign Ministry.
On December 18, Minister for Development Cooperation
Koenders issued a press release that he was suspending budget
support to Nicaragua. "I find it irresponsible to give
direct help to the Sandinista government, which has thwarted
free and fair elections in all possible manners." (Note:
Koenders had expressed concern to Nicaraguan Foreign Minister
Santos in summer 2008 about the Supreme Electoral Council's
decision to bar two opposition parties from participating in
elections. End Note.) MFA Deputy for Central American
Affairs Laetitia van Asch Pieters told poloff the suspension
applied to 2009 budget support, in the amount 6 million euros
(approx. $8.6 million). Half of the Netherlands' 2008 budget
support, also 6 million euros, had previously been canceled
(ref B). The Dutch ambassador in Managua has informed the
Nicaraguan government of this latest decision. Dutch foreign
assistance for other activities -- including 12.5 million
euros (approx. $17.8 million) for health, education and
business improvement -- will continue. Koenders has raised
objections to the Nicaraguan government's ban on abortion on
medical grounds; the Dutch government is, therefore,
supporting programs on sexual and reproductive health rights
as part of its health assistance. Van Asch Pieters noted the
EU has also canceled budgetary assistance to Nicaragua, and
had so informed Nicaragua's vice minister for development
cooperation on December 12. She asked for further
information on benchmarks the USG will use to resume aid (ref
C).
CULBERTSON