Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05THEHAGUE2556
2005-09-20 16:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

BEMBE EXTRADITION DEMARCHE DELIVERED

Tags:  KPAO AO NL PBTS XA PREL 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002556 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR/PPD, AF/S

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2015
TAGS: KPAO AO NL PBTS XA PREL
SUBJECT: BEMBE EXTRADITION DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: A. SECSTATE 171983

B. THE HAGUE 2515

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Chat Blakeman for Reason 1.4 (b),(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002556

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR/PPD, AF/S

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2015
TAGS: KPAO AO NL PBTS XA PREL
SUBJECT: BEMBE EXTRADITION DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: A. SECSTATE 171983

B. THE HAGUE 2515

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Chat Blakeman for Reason 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary: According to Renee Jones-Bos, Director
General for Regional and Consular Affairs at the Dutch MFA,
the MFA expects to limit its role in the Bembe extradition to
responding to specific questions posed by the court during
Bembe's September 13 hearing and will not take a political
position with regard to the proceedings. Jones-Bos
reiterated, however, that the Dutch Embassy in Angola
considers Bembe a valued partner in the peace discussions.
She noted that Bembe's arrest in the Hague had put the MFA in
an awkward position. Jones-Bos asked whether the U.S. would
consider reevaluating its extradition request in the context
of "more important" issues; Charge stressed this was not an
option, as our demarche made clear. End Summary.


2. (C) On September 20, Charge met with Renee Jones-Bos,
Director General for Regional and Consular Affairs, to
deliver ref. A points on the Bembe extradition. Charge noted
the U.S. views the case as an issue for the judicial system,
and would like to see it played out in the courts, not in the
political arena or in the press. Jones-Bos agreed, and said
the MFA "would not meddle in the legal procedures" and would
limit its involvement to responding directly to specific
questions raised during Bembe's September 13 hearing (ref.
B). She did not expect the MFA, as an institution, to take a
political position with regard to the case. Jones-Bos said
she would advise us in advance if that changed.


3. (C) Jones-Bos noted, however, that Bembe's arrest had put
the MFA in an "awkward position" for two reasons. First, the
MFA granted Bembe a visa to enter the Netherlands at the
request of Kredaa, a Dutch NGO involved in Cabindan peace
negotiations with Angola. The visit of Bembe, considered by
the Dutch Embassy in Angola to be a key player in the
negotiations, "suited the general purposes of (Dutch) foreign
policy." Second, Jones-Bos intimated that Bembe's arrest at
the Peace Palace had embarrassed the MFA because of the
building's symbolic status as a center for international
peace efforts. Charge responded by noting that the
Netherlands risked earning a very different reputation if it
harbored fugitives or failed to fulfill its treaty
obligations.


4. (C) In response to a pointed query by Jones-Bos into the
case's significance to the U.S., Charge said the extradition
of Bembe, a wanted criminal, is important to the USG. Jones
asked whether there was a chance the U.S. would put the case
aside in the context of other "more important" matters.
Charge stressed that this was not an option.
BLAKEMAN