NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: DUTCH SUPPORT DRAFT RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001262

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2014
TAGS: PREL IZ NL UNSC
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: DUTCH SUPPORT DRAFT RESOLUTION
AND FURTHER CONSULTATIONS

REF: A. STATE 116099


B. THE HAGUE 1210 (NOTAL)

Classified By: AMBASSADOR CLIFFORD SOBEL FOR REASONS 1.5(B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch government has reacted positively
to the draft UN Security Resolution on Iraq. In a May 25
meeting with Ambassador Sobel, Hugo Siblesz (MFA Political
Director) said that the draft resolution would help build
strong Parliamentary support for a decision to extend Dutch
troops. The Dutch hope that their remaining questions
concerning the chain of command and the roles of various
authorities after the transfer of sovereignty will be
addressed in side letters if not in the resolution itself.
Siblesz also pressed for continuing consultations, including
between military authorities, in the lead-up to June 30. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) The Dutch Government reacted positively to the
circulation of a draft UN Security Council Resolution on Iraq
on May 24. Foreign Minister Bot told the press that the
draft included "all the elements we find important" and
stated that the Netherlands would be satisfied if the text
went forward without changes. Bert Bakker, the D66
(Center-left, coalition) party foreign affairs spokesman in
parliament reacted more cautiously, saying that details
regarding the exact role of the UN needed additional
clarification, but still described the resolution as a step
in the right direction. PvdA (labor, opposition) party
spokesman Koenders acknowledged that the text contained
positive elements, but said that he remained skeptical about
its lack of specificity regarding Iraqi sovereignty and the
future role of the UN. (Post has distributed copies of the
text resolution (ref a) and the President's May 24 speech to
senior party leaders and the Prime Minister's office.)


3. (C) On May 25, Ambassador Sobel personally delivered the
draft resolution text and a copy of the President's speech to
Hugo Siblesz, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Political
Director. Siblesz stressed that the Dutch were pleased with
the draft text, and suggested that it would help the GONL
make its case in Parliament for extending Dutch troops in
Iraq. He noted that all the "relevant ministers" were
already firmly on board for an extension, but the draft
resolution should go a long way towards satisfying the
previously stated concerns of junior coalition partners D66
(ref b). Even the PvdA, he suggested, would find it
difficult to mount a strong challenge to an extension under
these circumstances. He cautioned, however, that the Abu
Ghraib revelations would probably influence the tone of the
debate in parliament, if not the final outcome.


4. (C) Siblesz noted that several specific issues related to
deployment of forces in Iraq were not addressed in the
resolution. He hoped that they would be directly addressed
in side letters between coalition authorities and the UN.
For example, Siblesz said that Dutch military officials
needed clarification regarding relations between the MNF and
nascent Iraqi military forces, as well as among the Iraqi
authorities themselves. Relations between the Dutch military
forces and local authorities in Al Muthanna, he noted, were
good -- how would they be affected by the transfer of
sovereignty to a national Iraqi government? Similarly, a
clear delineation of how policing and security duties would
be transferred from coalition forces to Iraqis would be
helpful.


5. (C) Ambassador Sobel asked Siblesz whether he had found
the recent meeting of POLDIRS in Washington useful. Siblesz
agreed that it had been a productive exercise and pressed for
additional consultations in the leadup to the transfer of
sovereignty. Consultations between military authorities, he
added, would be especially helpful in resolving the issues
mentioned above. It was also always useful for the GONL to
be able to demonstrate to parliament that serious
consultations, with real give and take, were taking place
with the United States.


6. (C) In conclusion, Ambassador Sobel stressed we would be
looking to the Dutch and other coalition partners to help
generate support for the resolution with other European UNSC
members, especially France and Germany. Siblesz agreed that
achieving a positive outcome in New York was a shared
interest and that the Dutch would keep a close eye on
developments there.
SOBEL