NETHERLANDS/PKK: DUTCH DEMARCHED ON COMBATTING

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 002802

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2015
TAGS: PTER PREL PINR EFIN KCRM TU NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/PKK: DUTCH DEMARCHED ON COMBATTING
PKK SUPPORT

REF: STATE 186669

Classified By: ACTING DCM ANDREW SCHOFER FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D).


1. (S) POLCOUNS delivered reftel demarche on reducing
European support to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to Pim
Dumore, Director of the Dutch MFA's Political Affairs
Department, on October 13. On October 14, POLCOUNS followed
up with Fred Olthof, Director of the Dutch MFA's Office of
New Threats and Challenges.


2. (S) POLCOUNS stressed that reftel demarche reflected a
high-level USG decision to strengthen transatlantic efforts
to shut down the PKK in Europe. He noted that we expected to
approach European governments, including the GONL, shortly
with specific proposals for enhancing cooperative
intelligence, law enforcement, and/or diplomatic measures
related to this effort.


3. (S) Dumore and Olthof separately acknowledged that the PKK
had not previously been a high priority for GONL
counter-terrorism efforts. Olthof noted that the Dutch
generally had not viewed the PKK as a serious threat to Dutch
or European interests given its primary focus on Turkey, even
though it had been designated a terrorist organization.
Olthof said he would pass the substance of the demarche to
other relevant GONL agencies and ask them to start thinking
about possible areas of cooperation.
BLAKEMAN