DUTCH WANT GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN FOUNDATION FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001675

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2015
TAGS: PREL KMPI KDEM BA NL
SUBJECT: DUTCH WANT GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN FOUNDATION FOR
THE FUTURE


Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) November 11, 2005; 12 noon; Manama, Bahrain.


2. (SBU) Participants:

U.S.
A/S Dan Fried, EUR
Blake Thorkelson, NEA/PI
Richard Michaels, Notetaker

The Netherlands
Baroness Henriette van Lynden, MFA Director ) North Africa
and Middle East
Ambassador to Bahrain and Kuwait Dr. Cor van Honk



3. (C) Summary. During a November 11 meeting with A/S Fried
on the margins of the Forum for the Future in Bahrain, Dutch
Baroness Henriette van Lynden, MFA Director ) North Africa
and Middle East, reiterated GON support for the Foundation
for the Future and expressed GON interest in playing a
principal role in developing the NGO sector in the Middle
East. Van Lynden emphasized the need to recruit more Arab
countries, such as Egypt and Oman, into the separate Fund for
the Future in order for the institution to achieve its goals.
End summary.

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Dutch Want Active Role in Developing NGO Sector
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4. (C) Dutch Baroness Henriette van Lynden told A/S Fried
that the GON intends to play an active role in developing a
Middle Eastern civil society, specifically in the Gulf.
While North Africa is covered by the Barcelona Process, which
she described as a stumbling baby, the GON is eyeing
cooperative opportunities with Gulf states in the areas of
democracy, rule of law, emancipation and entrepreneurship.
"We want to be seen to be actively involved," such as the
"modest" contribution the GON made to the Foundation for the
Future, the Baroness explained.


5. (C) Van Lynden characterized the NGO sector in the Middle
East as "quite weak" and in need of "propping up." She
explained that these NGOs need to play a greater role in
civil society and increase interaction with local
governments. The GON would like to focus on NGO development,
leaving a "Dutch footprint" on its Foundation involvement.
In fact, van Lynden is to join Prime Minister Jan Peter
Balkenende November 12 to begin a visit to the UAE, Oman and
Qatar to discuss civil society development, she reported.


6. (C) Baroness underscored the Foundation,s need to
support a viable NGO sector allowed to communicate with the
local government to achieve the institution,s objectives.
She cited an October visit with the Gulf Research Council
(GRC) in Dubai as an example. The group, fully funded by a
Saudi, functions as an NGO despite a UAE ban on such
organizations, she explained. The GRC, like many of her NGO
contacts, is fatalistic toward prospects of these
restrictions ending, van Lynden added. In the Baroness,
opinion, the Foundation should raise the awareness of the NGO
issue.

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Implementing the Foundation,s Objectives
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7. (C) Baroness also inquired about next steps after the
Foundation for the Future,s announcement November 12. A/S
Fried identified the creation of a strong board of directors
as a key to the Foundation,s success. Van Lynden suggested
contacting Dutch corporate sponsors such as Shell. After
reviewing a list of participating Middle East countries in
the Foundation and Fund, Baroness described the involvement
of Egypt and Oman, which have yet to join, as key to the
institutions, success. "It's not enough," she added, "you
need critical mass." A/S Fried offered to share the GON,s
interest in Foundation and Fund implementation with NEA/DAS
Carpenter.


8. (U) This message has been cleared by A/S Fried.

MONROE