INITIAL DUTCH RESPONSE ON REQUEST FOR EOD TROOPS

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 002571 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2013 TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR IZ NL SUBJECT: INITIAL DUTCH RESPONSE ON REQUEST FOR EOD TROOPS OR PERSONNEL IN IRAQ REF: STATE 283779 Classified By: Political Counselor Mary E. Daly for reasons 1.5 (b and d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see Para. 2. ¶2. (S) On October 6, PolOff delivered reftel demarche on Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) to Rob Gabrielse, Head of the MFA's Security Policy Bureau Operations Office. Gabrielse said the GONL recognizes the threat posed by unexploded ammunition, and the broader need for EOD assets. However, before the GONL can decide whether to provide EOD troops or personnel to the Dutch operations area (Al Muthanna province) in Iraq, the GONL requests answers to several questions: a) what is the official CPA policy regarding the guarding of caches and the disposal or deactivation of the ammunition b) what are the problems in the Dutch sector of Iraq, specifically the extent of the EOD problem and the recent history of EOD personnel there. Action Request: Post seeks Department feedback on these two points for use with the GONL ASAP. ¶3. (S) Gabrielse said the Dutch are currently exploring a demining partnership with Jordan, and an exploratory military mission is going to Jordan this week to look into possibilities. The Dutch will wait for the results of the Jordan mission before a political decision is made. SOBEL