NETHERLANDS/UN REFORM: DUTCH WILL PLAY IMPORTANT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000363

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2015
TAGS: PREL KUNR AORC NL UNSC UNGA KINR
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/UN REFORM: DUTCH WILL PLAY IMPORTANT
ROLE IN REFORM DEBATE

REF: A. STATE 11141


B. STATE 21394

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch are encouraging EU partners to
remain flexible on the issue of UN reform in the run-up to
the 2005 UNGA, according to Karel van Kesteren (MFA, UN
Director) and his deputy, Pieter Ramaer. The Dutch have come
around to the view that a Democracy Caucus in UN fora could
be useful in expanding debate, encouraging fresh thinking,
and facilitating the formation of effective coalitions. Van
Kesteren said he was surprised that the the U.S. was not more
active with regard to the UNSC expansion debate, considering
that a Council as large as 24 could result in an ineffective
body or one in which the U.S. wielded much less influence.
On the budget, the Dutch are concerned about regularizing the
sources of financing, which they now view as chaotic. End
Summary

DUTCH HOPE TO AVOID PREMATURE EU POSITION ON REFORM


2. (C) Poloff met Karel van Kesteren and his deputy, Pieter
Ramaer on February 4 to discuss US and Dutch perspectives on
UN reform during the run-up to the September 2005 UNGA. Van
Kesteren confirmed that the Dutch plan to pay an active role
on this issue, particularly given the Dutch PermRep's role as
a facilitator for the Millennium Review Summit and the fact
that PM Balkenende is one of the 15 Heads of Government on
the Mexico's "group of friends for the reform of the UN."
Van Kesteren stressed, however, that the Dutch are currently
advocating in EU counsels that the EU avoid agreeing a common
position on the reform agenda now. The Dutch argue that
taking this approach would allow Member States more
creativity in brainstorming and participating in preparatory
meetings at the UN. The Dutch MFA in The Hague has given
latitude to the Mission in New York as it engages in
preparatory meetings, he added. Van Kesteren worried,
however, that the whole reform debate was dominated by the
"New York mafia" and stressed that a way should be found to
break the issue free. Poloff explained how the USG
sometimes engages a targeted audience in specific capitals at
crucial points in UN debates and asked how the EU operates in
this regard. Kesteren agreed that this could be one way for
the EU and the Netherlands to approach the issue both in New
York and overseas.

DEMOCRACY CAUCUS - THINKING OUTSIDE THE BLOC


3. (C) Having overcome initial resistance to the idea of a
Democracy Caucus, the Dutch now see it as one form -- but
certainly not the only one -- in which to advance the UN
agenda in concert with the United States and other
like-minded countries, van Kesteren said. Like President
Bush, the Dutch recognize a global movement toward democracy,
which has been a core element of Dutch development policy for
some time. In general, the Dutch see the benefit of meeting
in a format that crosses the borders of the five formal UN
regional groups, not least because it encourages
outside-the-bloc thinking. Looking ahead to the preparatory
process for the 60th UNGA, the Dutch seek inclusive formulas
to involve countries like Egypt and India up front. PermReps
from such countries will be instrumental in bringing their
own New York staffs, as well as their home ministries, along
in a constructive manner in the reform debate, van Kesteren
recognized.

SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM


4. (C) The Dutch fear a dynamic that will result in
considerable UNSC expansion at the expense of effectiveness,
van Kesteren said. He admitted to being under the impression
that the USG was taking a "surprisingly laid back approach"
to this debate considering that a "Council of 24 would dilute
America's influence" and the decision making dynamics. "A
weakened UNSC does not make a stronger UN," he said, adding
with some disdain, "We do not want to make the UNSC more like
ECOSOC." The Dutch watch the G4 debate with interest, he
said. Adding that he saw the point of those arguing for one
EU seat to replace Britain, France, and any other EU aspirant
(Germany, Italy),he admitted this outcome was not likely in
this latest round of reform discussions.

BUDGET


5. (C) The Dutch give the budget issue less priority than
the issue of UN financing, which they view as "chaotic,
unstable, and unpredictable," hence worthy of more serious
consideration. The interplay of assessed contributions,
peacekeeping contributions, and voluntary contributions does
not serve the larger purposes of the UN, van Kesteren argued,
pointing for example to the contradiction between
international obligations to care for refugees and the fact
that the UN's refugee programs are funded in large part by
voluntary, vice assessed, contributions.


6. (C) With some caveats, the Dutch basically agree with
the points we have raised (reftel a) in criticism of the
Millennium Report, van Kesteren recalled, but for the USG
rejection of a focus on increasing the levels of ODA.
Development needs both an increase in ODA and an increase in
the capital flows the USG prefers to emphasize, he argued.
He agreed on the need for interested UN Member States to work
together in major capitals of developing countries to
continue promoting the benefits of funding besides ODA.


7. (U) Dutch reaction to the points in reftel B (on the
High Level Panel) will follow septel.


8. (U) BIONOTE: Karel van Kesteren has been appointed as
the next Dutch Ambassador to Tanzania, a post he will take up
this summer. His replacement is K.P Rade, currently Dutch
Ambassador to Nicaragua.
SOBEL