UN REFORM/NETHERLANDS: DISLIKE FOR G4 FRAMEWORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001937

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2015
TAGS: PREL NL UNSC
SUBJECT: UN REFORM/NETHERLANDS: DISLIKE FOR G4 FRAMEWORK
RESOLUTION

REF: A. STATE 126870


B. THE HAGUE 1793

Classified By: CDA Chat Blakeman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Charge and Acting PolCouns met Dutch MFA Director for
UN Affairs Karel van Kesteren July 8 to share ref A points.
The GONL has not decided how it will vote on the resolution,
holding open the option of working for amendments. Van
Kesteren said that as the resolution currently stands, the
Netherlands would not vote in favor, however there may be a
political decision to do otherwise because of the sensitivity
of the Dutch/German relationship. The FM and PM will make
the decision. Noting that the GONL had just completed a
videoconference with the Germans on the issue, van Kesteren
said the Dutch position would also be guided by their
considerations of longer term EU policy, as their ultimate
goal is a future EU seat on the UNSC. The GONL sees merit in
a Germany and Japanese presence on the Security Council; on
the other hand, adding another EU member would complicate
formulation of the common foreign and security policy, van
Kesteren believed.


2. Charge outlined U.S. objections to both the timing and
substance of the G4 resolution. For his part, van Kesteren
cited two problems with the text: "ambiguous veto language"
and the "lack of a review clause" -- the Dutch do not want to
freeze any changes in the UNSC into the Charter "forever"
(ref b). The Dutch prefer to create an opportunity to review
the situation after perhaps 15 years. The Netherlands also
doubts the effectiveness of a 25 member council but would be
prepared "give it a try."


3. (C) Van Kesteren conceded the importance of making
progress on U.S. priorities of UN management, human rights
and UN credibility. He said the dilemma was that it might
take another ten years to get consensus on Security Council
reform if the UN misses this opportunity. At the same time,
the GONL fears risking the whole reform movement if Security
Council reform ties up the next version of the draft Outcomes
Document. Complicating matters for the Dutch, who seek
consensus, was the fact that this resolution will be divisive
in the UNGA given the opposition of such countries as Italy,
Pakistan and Mexico, van Kesteren acknowledged.
BLAKEMAN