DUTCH READY FOR POST-ELECTION SUPPORT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001738

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR D, P, S/SA, EUR, EUR/SCE, EUR/UBI
ROME FOR AMB SKLAR


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2010
TAGS: PREL KDEM PHUM MW NL
SUBJECT: DUTCH READY FOR POST-ELECTION SUPPORT TO
DJUKANOVIC

REF: A. SECSTATE 109696

B. SECSTATE 107487 EXDIS (NOTAL)


CLASSIFIED BY A/POLCOUNS S. REID; REASONS 1.5 (B,D).


1.(C) A/POLCOUNS DELIVERED REF.A DEMARCHE TO ACTING EUR
A/S-EQUIVALENT MARTIN LAK AND MFA MONTENEGRO DESK OFFICER
NORBERT BOTH ON 6/9. LAK RECALLED FM VAN AARTSEN'S
EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN OVER MONTENEGRO TO SECRETARY ALBRIGHT
AT THE FLORENCE NAC (REF. B). HE ALSO SAID THAT THE DUTCH
CHARGE IN BELGRADE'S REPORTING OF EVENTS IN MONTENEGRO
TRACKED WITH REF. A ASSESSMENT. CONFIRMING THAT THE
NETHERLANDS MFA SHARES U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT RISING TENSIONS IN
THE RUN-UP TO THE 6/11 BALLOTING, LAK AGREED THAT PROMPT
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR DJUKANOVIC FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THE ELECTION OUTCOME WAS A PRUDENT STEP GIVEN POSSIBLE
MILOSEVIC PROVOCATIONS. HE ADDED THAT, WHILE SUPPORTIVE
REMARKS WOULD BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE USE WITH THE PRESS BY
FM VAN AARTSEN ON 6/12, THE DUTCH WOULD ALSO PUSH FOR AN
EARLY EU PRESIDENCY STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR DJUKANOVIC.
FINALLY, HE PREDICTED A PROMINENT PLACE FOR "ANTICIPATED
POSITIVE NEWS ON THE ELECTIONS" IN A 6/13 EU GAC STATEMENT.



2. (C) LAK NOTED THE DUTCH WERE PLEASED WITH THE SIZEABLE
ODIHR ELECTION MONITORING DEPLOYMENT IN MONTENEGRO. HE ADDED
THAT THE DUTCH ALSO WERE BUOYED THAT, SO FAR, BELGRADE'S
ALLIES HAD NOT CALLED FOR A BOYCOTT OF THE VOTE. "IT WOULD
BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE CAUSE OF FRY DEMOCRACY FOR BELGRADE
AND ITS ALLIES TO LOSE A FAIR VOTE," LAK SUMMARIZED, "IT
MIGHT JUST SPUR THE SERB OPPOSITION FORWARD SOME MORE.
DJUKANOVIC'S EXAMPLE IS VERY IMPORTANT AS A PICTURE OF WHAT
THE FRY COULD BE IF IT WANTED TO BE SO."
FENDRICK