Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04THEHAGUE102
2004-01-16 12:21:00
SECRET
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

IRAQ/MEK: DUTCH WILL ACCEPT CITIZENS, CONSIDER

Tags:  PHUM PTER IR NL PREJ IQ 
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S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000102 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2014
TAGS: PHUM PTER IR NL PREJ IQ
SUBJECT: IRAQ/MEK: DUTCH WILL ACCEPT CITIZENS, CONSIDER
OTHERS

REF: SECSTATE 8997

Classified By: A/PolCouns Nathaniel Dean Reasons 1.5 (b) (c) and (d)

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000102

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2014
TAGS: PHUM PTER IR NL PREJ IQ
SUBJECT: IRAQ/MEK: DUTCH WILL ACCEPT CITIZENS, CONSIDER
OTHERS

REF: SECSTATE 8997

Classified By: A/PolCouns Nathaniel Dean Reasons 1.5 (b) (c) and (d)


1. (S) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Head of Gulf
States Adri van Loopik, Iran Senior Policy Advisor Arnout
Wegerif, and Political Affairs Policy Officer Wouter Jurgens.
MFA contacts appreciated the information, and would like to
obtain details as soon on possible on any individuals
carrying Dutch passports and/or residency information. Van
Loopik stated that the Netherlands will accept Dutch citizens
currently being held, and will consider those with residency
ties to the Netherlands. Coordination will need to take
place via the Dutch Embassy in Baghdad and the MFA. (Note:
The Dutch Embassy remains officially closed; however, embassy
officials travel regularly to the mission.) Documents will
likely need to be sent to the Netherlands for verification.
Van Loopik was not surprised to hear that there may be Dutch
citizens among those MEK members currently being held; he has
heard of Dutch citizens working with MEK via other channels.


2. (C) On the subject of possibly accepting individuals with
no ties to the Netherlands, van Loopik stated that GoNL
policy is to relocate refugees regionally. However, the GoNL
would review such a request carefully. Jurgens went further
to note that if acceptance of MEK detainees would aid in
solving a security issue within Iraq, the GoNL might be more
inclined to give additional consideration to the issue. Van
Loopik and Jurgens both agreed that the GoNL would not/not
favor the forced return of MEK detainees.


3. (U) Note: The MEK is active in the Netherlands and has
conducted several multi-day demonstrations in front of the
Embassy.
SOBEL