DUTCH TO CONTINUE POLICE TRAINING IN SOUTHERN IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000867 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2014 TAGS: KCRM KJUS MOPS PREL NL SUBJECT: DUTCH TO CONTINUE POLICE TRAINING IN SOUTHERN IRAQ REF: A. SECSTATE 58021 ¶B. 03 THE HAGUE 2476 Classified By: PolCouns Mary E. Daly Reasons 1.5 (b) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Dutch government is not/not able to contribute any trainers for CPA Iraqi police development programs in Iraq and Jordan (ref a). However, the Dutch remain actively involved in training Iraqi police in the province of Al-Muthanna. The Dutch have also seconded a military police (Marechaussee) officer to work as Advisor and Mentor to the provincial Chief of Police (Iraqi Police Service) at the request of the British government. Following ref a demarche, the GoNL has instructed its Marechaussee officers to be in closer coordination with CPA officials in Baghdad. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Dutch government is currently not/not able to contribute either civil or military (Marechaussee) police trainers to aid in Iraqi police development in either Jordan or Iraq. PolOff delivered ref A demarche to MFA Security Policy Advisor Hester Jonkman in March. Following interagency consultations, Jonkman advised post on April 1 that the GoNL would unfortunately not be able to assist in the call for international trainers. Dutch military police trainers are already executing police training programs via CIMIC (civilian-military cooperation) programs in the Al-Muthanna province, where Dutch troops are deployed. The GoNL is unable to spare any additional Marechaussee police training officers for the Jordan or Baghdad training sites. (Note: Further information on the police training program in Al-Munthanna will be provided septel. End note.) Additionally, due to strict security considerations and regulations, civilian police are not able to be sent to Iraq. Jonkman noted that the approval process for sending civilian police officers to Jordan is so time-consuming and complicated that the GoNL preferred not to begin the process, as approval would not be certain, and even a best-case scenario would be sending a mere one or two officers. Jonkman added that if the security situation in Baghdad significantly improves and stabilizes, the GoNL might reconsider this request in the future. ¶3. (SBU) The GoNL, upon request from the British government, recently seconded a Marechaussee officer to act as advisor and mentor to the Chief of Police for the Al-Muthanna. The Dutch were pleased to be able to assist in this request. According the Political Counselor at the British Embassy in The Hague, this individual has the following responsibilities: a) Working with the Iraqis and international civilian and military staff to build capacity within the new Iraqi Police Service b) Mentoring the provincial Chief of Police. Providing professional guidance to ensure s/he develops the necessary skills and abilities commensurate with the role. Ensuring the Chief of Police carries out his/her duties in line with regional and national policies as determined by the Ministry of Interior. c) Developing sufficient capacity within the provincial Governate to introduce effective local accountability within the IPS d) Providing coordination, guidance and advice to the Field Training Coordinators and Officers who will be monitoring and mentoring IPS in the province e) Assisting in the development of the provincial police committee in accordance with CPA Baghdad and Ministry of Interior policy. ¶4. (C) Further to reftel request, the GoNL has instructed its Marechaussee officers conducting police training in Iraq to ensure adequate contact and coordination with CPA police trainers in Baghdad. SOBEL