NETHERLANDS/BOLIVIA: DUTCH MAY CONSIDER SENDING

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 003206

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR WHA/AND AND WHA/USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL NL BL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/BOLIVIA: DUTCH MAY CONSIDER SENDING
MONITORS

REF: SECSTATE 214591


1. (SBU) The Netherlands is receptive to the Bolivian
government's call for bilateral assistance to the
Organization of American States (OAS) mission to monitor the
December 18 general elections. The Netherlands has provided
US$100,000 to the mission and has pushed for EU support of
the mission. The Dutch are prepared to consider a request to
provide monitors, but believe other nations may be in a
better position to do so.


2. (SBU) Dimitri Vogelaar (Bolivia Desk Officer, MFA),told
Poloff November 29 that the Dutch would seriously consider
providing election observers to the OAS mission per reftel.
Vogelaar promised to forward the request to the Dutch Embassy
in La Paz and to the Dutch MFA office responsible for
providing election monitors to various missions. He
cautioned, however, that the Swedes and Danes may be in a
better position to provide personnel to the OAS mission than
the Dutch given their larger representations in La Paz. He
added that the relatively small Dutch presence in Bolivia
would not impede the Dutch Ambassador to Bolivia from giving
consideration to the Bolivian government's request.


3. (SBU) The Dutch regret the EU's decision to forego
provision of election monitors to the OAS mission in Bolivia
but find it nonetheless pragmatic. Vogelaar explained that
the EU has prioritized careful observation of the Venezuelan
elections, which are taking place concurrent to the Bolivian
elections. Vogelaar intimated that resource constraints keep
the EU from effectively monitoring both elections
simultaneously.
BLAKEMAN