NETHERLANDS/EU/KOREA: DUTCH ON EU SUMMIT WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002677

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR AND EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2014
TAGS: PREL NL KS KN EUN
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU/KOREA: DUTCH ON EU SUMMIT WITH
SOUTH KOREA


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


1. (SBU) Both MFA Korea Desk officer and South Korea Embassy
officer told poloffs that the EU-South Korea Summit held in
Hanoi on October 9 was so brief -- lasting only two hours
including interpretation -- that participants did not have
enough time to cover all of the issues included in the
lengthy Joint Press Statement, which was negotiated before
the Summit. The Joint Press Statement, which is available at
www.eu2004.nl/20041012-104311-M, includes the following
topics: (a) deepening relations between EU and Republic of
Korea, (b) Recent developments in the Republic of Korea and
Recent developments in the EU, (c) North Korean nuclear
issues and ROK- and EU-North Korea relationships, (d) EU-ROK
discussion on global issues including counterterrorism
cooperation, Iraq, Afghanistan, development goals, climate
change, science and technology cooperation, business and
investment, and trade.


2. (C) MFA Korea Desk officer Robert Dresen noted October 14
that the Asians had cautioned the Europeans not to press
North Korea for dramatic changes or reforms, preferring
slower but surer reforms. Both Dresen and South Korea
Embassy official Yoon Lee told poloffs that very little else
was actually discussed at the meeting due to time
constraints. Lee was uncertain as to whether the next Summit
(in two years' time) would be held over a longer period of
time in order to ensure more time for discussion. At a
reception on the evening of October 14, Robert Milders,
Director of the MFA's Department of Asian affairs, similarly
described the summit as non-controversial but not
particularly useful or interesting from the perspective of
the Dutch EU Presidency.
SOBEL