UNGA 59/EAST TIMOR ACCOUNTABILITY - DUTCH SUPPORT

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002382 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KJUS KAWC PHUM NL SUBJECT: UNGA 59/EAST TIMOR ACCOUNTABILITY - DUTCH SUPPORT UN ACTION REF: SECSTATE 201717 ¶1. (SBU) The Dutch "fully support" the idea of the UN Secretariat forming a Commission of Experts (COE) to evaluate SIPDIS the work of the Ad Hoc Tribunal and Serious Crimes Unit and report on next steps regarding accountability for the 1999 atrocities on East Timor. However, Indonesian reluctance to forming a COE remains an obstacle, noted Jetti Kouwen, on the Dutch MFA Indonesia desk, with whom Poloff shared reftel points on September 20. Kouwen's Washington counterpart, Peter Potman, had briefed her on the Washington meetings (reftel). ¶2. (SBU) Kouwen knew of no Dutch plans to pursue the issue during this week's UNGA meetings. Poloff urged her to advise her colleagues in New York that the USG would be working this issue at a high level on the margins of the UNGA and would count on Dutch support and assistance to move planning ahead. Kouwen suggested USDel contact Geroen Roodenburg, head of the Political Department at the Dutch UN Mission, for follow up. SOBEL