NETHERLANDS: SUPPORTIVE ON SUA AMENDMENTS

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002675 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR/UBI/FALL, ISN/RA/SONTAG, L/LEI/MANNING AND L/ISN/HERR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL PGOV KTIA EWWT PHSA NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: SUPPORTIVE ON SUA AMENDMENTS ¶1. POLOFF discussed reftel points October 4 with Dr. Liesbeth Lijnzaad (Deputy Head, Legal Affairs Department, International Law Division, MFA),who will head the Dutch delegation to the International Maritime Organization Diplomatic Conference on October 10-14. ¶2. Lijnzaad said that she would probably be unable to provide an official GONL position to the USG prior to the conference. Other delegation members have not had the opportunity to review the points, and are currently involved in the PSI conference in Bergen, Norway. Lijnzaad noted, however, that the GONL's position is "generally in line" with the USG position, and that she was impressed with the amount of work Washington has done on these issues. She added that the Dutch government disagrees with Washington on a "few, minor items" but declined to elaborate. Post will provide updates as necessary. BLAKEMAN