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