NETHERLANDS/BELARUS: DUTCH SUPPORT CIVIL SOCIETY

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002845

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM EAID BO NL EUN
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/BELARUS: DUTCH SUPPORT CIVIL SOCIETY
IN BELARUS

REF: STATE 188900

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch support promoting civil society
in Belarus and are prepared to pursue this objective
bilaterally. At the same time, they do not want to appear
out of step from an EU consensus, and in general prefer
constructive engagement over isolation. The Dutch recognize
that relations with Russia will be a factor in determining
the "robustness" of European approaches. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On October 13, POLCOUNS discussed reftel points on
promoting democracy and civil society in Belarus with Pim
Dumore, Director of the Dutch MFA's Office of Political
Affairs. Dumore stressed that the Dutch are very supportive
of promoting civil society in Belarus, but cautioned that the
Dutch and other Europeans were not comfortable with overly
"robust" programs aimed at changing the regime. Dumore
expressed frustration with the European approach since, in
his view, only Lukashenko's departure from power would give
the Belarusian people a real chance to determine their own
future.


3. (C) POLCOUNS asked how active the Dutch were prepared to
be in Belarus bilaterally, as opposed to working through the
EU. Dumore responded that the Dutch were one of relatively
few EU countries with the ability and will to provide
assistance directly to NGO's inside Belarus. In his last
job, as Dutch Ambassadaor to Vilnius, Dumore had been
personally involved in such efforts, some of which involved
working through Polish or Lithuanian organization. As far as
possible, however, the Dutch would prefer not to be out of
step with the EU. Dumore noted that EU relations with Russia
would naturally be a factor in determining EU policies toward
Belarus.


4. (C) On October 17, the Charge briefly raised Belarus in a
meeting with Dutch MFA POLDIR Hugo Siblesz. Siblesz shared
Dumore's view that the EU had become "deadlocked" over how to
handle Belarus. None of the various approaches tried so far
had been successful in moderating Lukashenko's behavior, he
added. Noting that Russian President Putin would visit the
Netherlands in early November, Siblesz said Belarus would
probably be on the agenda, but made clear he did not expect
any breakthroughs.


5. (C) Charge also raised reftel points with Renee Jones-Bos,
MFA Director-General for Regional and Consular Affairs, on
October 20. Jones-Bos, a former Dutch Ambassador for Human
Rights Affairs, confirmed that the Dutch actively supported
promoting civil society in Belarus. She noted that the Dutch
had good relations with several NGO's in Belarus and provided
support through the Dutch Embassy in Warsaw. She added,
however, that the Dutch and other Europeans preferred a
policy of constructive engagement with Belarus to one of
isolation.
BLAKEMAN