NETHERLANDS/EU/BANGLADESH: DETERIORATING INTERNAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002582

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR AND SA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINS ECON BG NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU/BANGLADESH: DETERIORATING INTERNAL
SITUATION

REF: STATE 213215

Classified By: POL Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: The Dutch share U.S. concerns regarding the
deteriorating domestic situation in Bangladesh. In their
capacity as EU President, the Dutch are organizing a
"brainstorming session" on October 21 to develop a common EU
approach to the situation. End Summary.

"Bleak" Situation
--------------


2. (C) Poloff discussed reftel message October 7 with Wilfred
Mohr, Head of MFA's South Asia Division. Mohr said he
concurred with the U.S. analysis of the deteriorating
situation in Bangladesh, calling the situation "bleak" and
increasingly "on the radar screen." Mohr noted that the
Bangladeshi parliament is "not functioning" since opposition
parties do not show up for debates, and that "nobody sees an
exit" from the political violence between the opposing party
leaders' families. He added that Shell had recently scaled
down its operations in Bangladesh because of the
deteriorating political environment. Mohr identified the
unclear role Bangladesh plays in border skirmishes in India,
pockets of extremist fundamentalism, and the need for
monitoring of development cooperation and governance as
additional issues of concern.

EU Follow-Up
--------------


3. (SBU) Mohr said that within the EU, the Dutch have
organized an internal working-level "brainstorming session"
to be held on October 21 in Brussels which will attempt to
find a common EU analysis of the political, economic and
development situation and to identify joint initiatives that
could be taken to tackle related concerns. Mohr also pointed
out that Bangladesh will be an agenda item for discussion at
the October 18 COASI consultations with the U.S., in which he
will participate.


4. (C) Mohr found reftel suggested points for use in
discussions with Bangladeshis useful, and said that nearly
identical points had already been used by EU interlocutors.
Mohr identified in particular that the EU had carried out a
joint demarche on the Government of Bangladesh pressing the
government to investigate recent political crimes.
SOBEL