NETHERLANDS/ASHRAF REPATRIATIONS: STILL UNDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002783 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UBI (HOLLIDAY) AND NEA/I (EPSTEIN) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2014 TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL PTER IZ IR NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ASHRAF REPATRIATIONS: STILL UNDER DISCUSSION REF: A. (A) STATE 212970 ¶B. (B) THE HAGUE 2206 ¶C. (C) BUCKNEBERG-JOST EMAIL OF 10/5/04 ¶D. (D) BUCKNEBERG-EPSTEIN EMAIL OF 10/19/04 Classified By: POL Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b/d) (C) Pursuant to refs A and B, Embassy has continued to follow up with MFA Asylum and Migration Division regarding cases in which Ashraf residents claim ties to the Netherlands. As per refs C and D, Asylum and Migration Division Regional Coordinator for Asia Marja van der Lynden requested on October 5 copies of any available identification and/or residency documents that could assist the Dutch in their investigation of the cases, pointing out that such documents could clarify spelling differences and help move cases along absent a Dutch delegation to Ashraf. Van der Lynden confirmed October 28 that the MFA and MOJ have not yet reached agreement on a strategy for handling the cases, are still awaiting a response from the U.S. regarding documentation, and continue to consider the security situation in Baghdad prohibitive of sending a delegation at this time. Please advise. SOBEL