NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 003009

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KDEM IZ NL EUN
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM
POINTS DELIVERED

REF: STATE 199224


1. (SBU) On November 1, POLCOUNS delivered reftel points and
Secretary Rice's statement on the results of the

SIPDIS
Constitutional Referendum in Iraq to Willemijn Kallenberg
(Iraq Desk Officer, Dutch MFA). In response to POLCOUNS'
questions, Kallenberg said she was not aware of any
"official" Dutch reaction to the election, although she
stressed that the GONL was pleased with the result. She
noted that there would be an opportunity for the EU to
discuss the results at the upcoming November 7 GAERC meeting,
and stated that the Dutch would support a positive EU
statement. POLCOUNS noted that the GAERC usually provided
opportunities for individual ministers to address the press
separately and asked whether FM Bot could make a supportive
statement in that context; Kallenberg assured POLCOUNS that
he would be prepared to do so "if asked."
BLAKEMAN