DUTCH PARLIAMENT REITERATES OPPOSITION TO LIFTING

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 003074 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV CU NL EUN SUBJECT: DUTCH PARLIAMENT REITERATES OPPOSITION TO LIFTING CHINA ARMS EMBARGO ¶1. (U) At a regular hearing in the Dutch parliament on November 18 prior to the monthly EU foreign ministers' meeting (GAERC),spokesmen for the main political parties reiterated their opposition to the lifting of the EU's China arms embargo. Encouraged by the recent vote in the European Parliament and reports of Swedish and Danish opposition, they urged the government to lobby in the EU for maintaining the embargo. Parliament previously adopted a unanimous resolution voicing the same request. Nevertheless, FM Bot made clear at the time that the government would not block a consensus to lift the embargo. After the November 18 hearing, State Secretary for European Affairs Atzo Nicolai reportedly said that the government would take parliament's views into account in dealing with this issue. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Unlike in some other EU member states, the Dutch parliament's unanimous opposition to lifting the China Arms Embargo has little practical impact on the Dutch government's ability to form and implement policy on this issue. While opposition to lifting the Embargo is broad, it is not particularly deep, and there is little enthusiasm for forcing a rift in the EU on the issue. Most parliamentary leaders have already indicated that they accept the government's argument that, as EU president, the Netherlands should act in accordance with EU consensus. End comment. Sobel