ITER: DUTCH HOPE TO MAINTAIN TALKS' MOMENTUM,

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 003302 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UBI/HOLLIDAY STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEPT. OF ENERGY, MCSLARROW AND ORBACH E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2014 TAGS: PREL TRGY NL EU SUBJECT: ITER: DUTCH HOPE TO MAINTAIN TALKS' MOMENTUM, JAPANESE FLEXIBILITY REF: SECSTATE 268243 Classified By: Richard Huff, Economic Counselor for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) ¶1. (U) On December 20 econ counselor and econ off delivered reftel demarche letter and talking points to Pim Fenger, Denise Heiligers and Joost Teverne, ITER policy advisors to Dutch Minister for Science van der Hoeven. ¶2. (C) Fenger and Teverne stressed that the talks were at a critical moment. On December 31 the EU presidency shifts to Luxembourg, who, in Teverne's words "speaks French better than Dutch." Thus far the Luxembourgers have not asked the Dutch to hold competency for ITER when their presidency ends. With ten days left, however, it was still possible to reach an agreement. Teverne said his minister hoped the negotiations could sustain positive momentum. ¶3. (C) Teverne said van der Hoeven had appreciated the good communications with the U.S. side. There was "disappointment," however, at perceived Japanese stalling. Furthermore, the Japanese proposal for dedicated procurement for the non-host country had not resonated with EU member states. The Dutch feel Minister van der Hoeven had delivered on her promise to preserve the six-party framework during her country's presidency, and requested that U.S. negotiators press the Japanese to remain flexible in negotiations. ¶4. (C) Minister van der Hoeven will talk with Japanese Minister for Technology Nakayama on Tuesday, December 21. The call comes at the Japanese minister's request. Our interlocutors did not know what Nakayama would say, but said van der Hoeven was very interested in the Japanese official's message. SOBEL