NETHERLANDS/HAITI: EXPLORING ROLE FOR EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 003088 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2015 TAGS: PREL MARR NL EUN SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/HAITI: EXPLORING ROLE FOR EU GENDARMERIE IN HAITI REF: SECSTATE 206172 Classified By: Acting DCM Andrew J. Schofer for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On November 11, Charge delivered reftel points to Marnix Krop (Director-General for European Cooperation, MFA). On November 14, POLOFF followed up with Hester Jongman (Policy Officer, Civil-Military Affairs, MFA). Jongman welcomed the points, but was skeptical that an European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) would be deployed in time to support Haitian elections in December. She did not anticipate the EGF would be operational before mid-2006. ¶2. (C) Time constraints notwithstanding, the Dutch consider the EGF's role as a military force under the ambit of the EU to be one played primarily in the European theater. Jongman explained that the Dutch hope to see the EGF address issues closer to Brussels before turning its focus outside Europe. The Dutch see Kosovo as the EGF's first priority. BLAKEMAN