DUTCH/EU ON ARAB RESOLUTION ON ISRAELI SECURITY BARRIER

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001770

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2014
TAGS: PREL NL EU IS UNGA
SUBJECT: DUTCH/EU ON ARAB RESOLUTION ON ISRAELI SECURITY BARRIER

REF: A. SCHOFER-HOLLIDAY TELCON 7/9/04
b. SECSTATE 152014
c. PARIS 5294

Classified By: Ambassador Clifford Sobel; REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) On July 9, Ambassador Sobel discussed the anticipated ICJ
decision on the Israeli Security Barrier with Hugo Siblesz, the Dutch
MFA's Director General for Political Affairs (ref a). At that time,
Siblesz said that while elements of the substance of the decision were
expected to be close to the Dutch national position, the Dutch were
uncomfortable with the Arab strategy of forcing a debate in the General
Assembly. Siblesz felt that it would be impossible to keep the Arabs
from putting their resolution forward, but suggested that the EU might
-- at best -- be able to agree to abstain. He stressed that, as EU
president, the Dutch would seek to develop a coordinated EU position.
.

2. (C) On July 13, Poloff delivered ref b points to Peter Ramaer, Head
of the Political and Legal Affairs Division in the UN Department at the
MFA. Ramaer was aware of the EU FM's discussion of the issue in
Brussels on July 12, but claimed that it was still "too early" to talk
about a coordinated EU reaction to subject resolution. Ramaer relayed
what he characterized as "positive notes on the opinion itself" from EU
colleagues, but stressed that the EU Foreign Ministers' had basically
moved the discussion to New York without reaching agreement.