DUTCH MINISTER NICOLAI'S UPCOMING VISIT TO U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 002587

SIPDIS

CHARGE D'AFFAIRES BLAKEMAN FOR EUR A/S DAN FRIED, P, R, E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2015
TAGS: PREL NL EUN
SUBJECT: DUTCH MINISTER NICOLAI'S UPCOMING VISIT TO U.S.


Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES CHAT BLAKEMAN FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (
D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Dutch Minister for European Affairs Atzo
Nicolai views his first visit to the U.S. as an opportunity
to strengthen transatlantic ties by cultivating a solid
working relationship with senior USG interlocutors. A
consummate European insider and political survivor, Nicolai
could be a powerful ally in promoting U.S. interests in
Europe, including with regard to Turkish EU accession talks
and efforts to reach out to European Muslims. Post
recommends that the Department support Dutch requests for
high-level introductory meetings for Nicolai with P, R, and

E. END SUMMARY.

BUILDING A TRANSATLANTIC FUTURE
--------------


2. (C) During a September 19 meeting with Charge, State
Secretary (Minister) For European Affairs Atzo Nicolai said

SIPDIS
that he hopes to use his upcoming trip to the United States
to explore opportunities for reinvigorating transatlantic
dialogue and cooperation. Nicolai said this would be his
first trip to the United States, noting that his duties
during the Dutch EU presidency last year and then supervising
the Dutch referendum on the EU's constitutional treaty had
limited his ability to travel. His experiences during this
period, however, had reinforced his belief in the critical
importance of the transatlantic relationship in defining
Europe's future. On issues ranging from Turkey to Ukraine,
he said, it was clear that the U.S. and European interests
were linked. Nicolai noted that he would be giving at least
two speeches during his visit to Washington on the "Future of
Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship."

EUROPEAN ENLARGEMENT/INTEGRATION
--------------


3. (C) Nicolai said he was eager to learn first-hand U.S.
views on European integration and enlargement. The Dutch
"no" vote on the EU's Constitutional Treaty, he added, had
thrown a lot of long-standing Dutch and European assumptions
on their head. The Dutch are now starting to engage in a
"national dialogue" on Europe -- a project Nicolai will
oversee -- but neither the government nor the public has a
clear idea where it will lead. The answer will have serious
implications not only for the EU, but also for the
transatlantic relationship and specifically relations between
the EU and NATO. Nicolai reiterated that he wanted to make
sure he understood clearly U.S. views before proceeding too
far with the "national dialogue." Noting that the referendum
had painfully exposed a gap between the Dutch public and the
political elite, he said he would also appreciate learning
more about how the U.S. government effectively communicated
its vision at home and abroad.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT TURKEY?
--------------


4. (C) Noting that he planned to arrive in the U.S. on
October 4, Nicolai said he assumed Washington interlocutors
would be interested in discussing the implications of the
EU's October 3 decision on Turkey -- whatever that might turn
out to be. Nicolai praised the U.S. for its quiet, but
essential diplomacy during the Dutch EU presidency to help
bring Turkey to the table, but noted that subsequent events
had put the entire process in doubt. Coordination between
the U.S. and the EU will remain critical both in the period
leading up to October 3 and in managing its aftermath, he
added.

REACHING OUT TO MUSLIMS
--------------


5. (C) Turning to the "cultural" side of his visit (Note:
Nicolai's portfolio includes international cultural
affairs.),Nicolai said that he was particularly interested
in looking at creative ways to use culture to improve the
image of "the West" in the Islamic world. The Foreign
Ministry, he added, is considering establishing a
"Mediterranean Center" in the Netherlands, along the lines of
the L'Institute du Monde Arabe, to promote cultural
interactions with Muslims. While this plan is in an early
stage, he would be eager to explore with Washington
interlocutors ideas for enhancing U.S.-European efforts to
reach out to Muslims in Europe and elsewhere. Pointing to
the USG's active outreach program, Charge agreed that this
was an area where the U.S. and the Dutch could benefit from a
candid discussion of our positive and negative experiences to
date, and where we might find some creative ways to join
forces.

COMMENT:
--------------


6. (C) Although frequently overshadowed by Foreign Minister
Bot and Development Minister van Ardenne, Nicolai is a key
player in the Dutch government on European Integration issues
and a true political survivor. Many observers predicted he
would take the fall for the government's disastrous EU
Constitutional Treaty referendum, but he managed to accept
responsibility for the fiasco before parliament while keeping
his credibility and reputation intact, and very possibly
enhanced. After focusing almost exclusively on internal EU
developments for the past year, his decision to seek out a
working relationship with the USG is a late, but welcome
development. As a consummate European insider, he could be a
powerful ally in promoting both our transatlantic agenda and
Muslim outreach efforts in Europe. We should not let this
opportunity to cultivate a potentially useful contact slip
away. Post understands that a meeting with EUR A/S Fried is
already on Nicolai's schedule; we recommend that Washington
also support Dutch requests for other requested high-level
introductory visits, including with P, R, and E. END
COMMENT.
.


BLAKEMAN