SUDAN/UNSC: DUTCH BELIEVE THE BURDEN OF PROOF IS

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001926 SIPDIS NAIROBI FOR KHARTOUM EMBASSY OFFICE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2010 TAGS: PREL PTER ETTC SU NL UNSC SUBJECT: SUDAN/UNSC: DUTCH BELIEVE THE BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON THOSE PROPOSING TO LIFT SANCTIONS REF: A. SECSTATE 121045 ¶B. SECSTATE 117658 (NOTAL) Classified by A/Polcouns Eric Lundberg, Reasons 1.5 b/d 1.(C) Responding to ref A demarche on 6/26, Dutch MFA UN Political Affairs expert Marjolijn van Deelen told A/Polcouns that the Dutch would look skeptically upon a UNSC resolution calling for the lifting of sanctions on Sudan. According to Van Deelen, the burden of proof lies with those who maintain Sudan is complying with UNSCR 1044. The MFA, she said, would study the ref B non-paper forwarded last week, but was prone to agree with Washington that Khartoum had not done enough to rein in terrorist group present in Sudan. Along these lines, Van Deelen said that the Dutch would be interested in a readout of the ongoing U.S.-Sudan talks. 2.(C) Addressing Cairo's softened stance toward Khartoum, Van Deelen was curious why the U.S. appraisal of Egyptian terrorist groups EIJ and Al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya differed with Egypt's. A/Polcouns countered that Cairo's policy was based on its assessment of its own interests, which may or may not take into account the existing threat to U.S. or European interests, nor the language of UNSCR 1044. 3.(C) Reviewing the Secretary's oral message, Van Deelen quibbled only with an apparent parallel drawn between lifting sanctions and rehabilitation of Sudan. The lifting of sanctions, she stressed, should be pegged to Sudanese compliance with UNSCR 1044, she said. Rehabilitation, however, should come only with Khartoum's improved behavior in a variety of areas in addition to terrorism, namely human rights and the peace process. SCHNEIDER