NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: DUTCH CONSIDERING UN AIRCRAFT

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 003156 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2015 TAGS: PREL PARM MARR IZ NL UN SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/IRAQ: DUTCH CONSIDERING UN AIRCRAFT REQUEST REF: STATE 212960 Classified By: Acting DCM Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4(B) and (D). ¶1. (C) The Dutch will consider the UN's request for aircraft to support the UNAMI mission, but will seek assurances on security, according to the MFA. On November 23, POLCOUNS delivered reftel demarche points to Willemijn Kallenberg (Senior Policy Advisor, North Africa and Middle East Department, MFA). Kallenberg said she would share the request with the Ministry of Defense and the MFA's Department of Security Affairs to develop a coordinated response to the demarche. ¶2. (C) Kallenberg recalled that the Dutch had previously provided a Fokker 60 to support UNAMI. She noted that after a positive response to the UN last year, however, the request had "fallen through" following a negative security assessment by UNSECOORD. Kallenberg stressed that a positive UNSECOORD security assessment would be an important factor in determining the Dutch position. BLAKEMAN