NETHERLANDS/UZBEKISTAN: FOLLOW UP ON RESETTLING

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002039

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2015
TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL PHUM NL KG UZ
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/UZBEKISTAN: FOLLOW UP ON RESETTLING
UZBEK REFUGEES

REF: A. THE HAGUE 1987

B. SECSTATE 131485

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Herbert Traub for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Acting PolCouns followed up reftels with Anna Brinks
(MFA, refugee assistance officer) on July 22, who revealed
that the Dutch still have about 50 open places from their
2005 refugee quota of 500. For these spots they could
consider individual cases "on a case by case ("dossier")
basis" if asked, but UNCHR has not done so. However, taking
large numbers of refugees would be "impossible" for the Dutch
"for many reasons," she said. She said she knew the
resettlement issue had been under discussion in Geneva at
UNCHR and that countries in the region had been approached to
accept the refugees, but she had no further details.


2. (SBU) As for the U.S. offer to resettle all the
refugees, she welcomed it but was concerned about the
implications of the interview procedures explained in ref B.
She understood in theory that refugees applying for asylum in
the U.S. would have to pass an immigration interview first
but was uncomfortable that a person did not pass would be
left resident in the country that had offered to hold them
temporarily pending the interviews.
BLAKEMAN