C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001080

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2011
TAGS: PREL PARM UNAUS EUN MW SR BO IR IZ CG SU
LI, NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF THE
MAY 15 GAERC

REF: STATE 74555

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew J. Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche May 10 to Deputy
European Correspondent Bahia Tahzib-Lie and attended
subsequent diplomatic community pre-GAERC briefing with
European Correspondent Desiree Kopmels. The MFA does not
expect significant progress on enlargement during this GAERC
but does expect Nepal and energy security - with a focus on
the EU northern Caucuses proposal - to be discussed. The
GONL will also push members to discuss a common Hamas visa
policy. The GONL understands Malta will raise "recent
developments in Zimbabwe" but has no details. Other reftel
issues are addressed below.

Balkans
--------------


2. (C) The GONL is in agreement with us on Balkans issues
listed reftel. They added that, in light of Del Ponte's
findings on lack of Serbian cooperation, accession
negotiations with Serbia should be ended.

Iran
--------------


3. (C) Kopmels expressed interest in seeing the contents of
Ahmadinejad's letter to President Bush. Poloff recommended
she ask the Dutch embassy in Tehran to send her a copy, as it
was reportedly published in local papers. Kopmels did not
discuss Iran further.

Iraq
--------------


4. (C) The GONL is generally supportive of reftel points.

Liberia and Congo
--------------


5. (C) The GONL does not expect Charles Taylor to be raised
and say the GAERC forum is too public to be of use on this.
The Dutch expect African topics other than Darfur to be
mentioned only briefly at the GAERC.

Darfur
--------------


6. (U) The Dutch repeated recent press announcements that
they will take the lead on Darfur reconstruction. They hope
to hold a needs assessment seminar in June and a donor's
conference in late summer or early fall.
ARNALL