Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06THEHAGUE1123
2006-05-18 11:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/ISAF: DUTCH REVISING CAVEATS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001123
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RPM, EUR/UBI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2016
TAGS: NATO MARR PREL AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ISAF: DUTCH REVISING CAVEATS
REF: STATE 74035
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001123
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RPM, EUR/UBI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2016
TAGS: NATO MARR PREL AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ISAF: DUTCH REVISING CAVEATS
REF: STATE 74035
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) Summary: The GONL will soon submit through its
delegation at NATO revised caveats to the new ISAF rules of
engagement. These caveats will be less restrictive than
current caveats and are intended to protect Dutch interests
with regard to detainee issues and deconfliction between OEF
and ISAF operations. DATT and Polmiloff discussed reftel
with MFA Senior Advisor Devi van der Weerde, MOD Legal
Advisor Maartin Zwangenburg, and MOD Senior Advisor for
General Policy Affairs David van Weel on May 18. End summary.
2. (C) In response to reftel points, Zwangenburg and van Weel
noted that the current Dutch caveats do not impose geographic
restrictions on Dutch operations, nor will they require
referral to parliament. They agreed that every effort should
be taken to ensure that ISAF operations are efficient and
effective as possible. Zwangenburg said the GONL had
reviewed its current caveats with efficiency/effectiveness in
mind and had nearly finished revising them to reflect the new
ISAF rules of engagement (ROEs). He anticipated that the
GONL would brief specific changes directly to NATO in the
near future.
3. (C) DATT and polmiloff pressed for details of the
revisions. Zwangenburg said that the revised caveats would
be less restrictive than current ones. For example, he
expected the Dutch caveat pertaining to riot agents (ROE 321
in the old ISAF ROEs) to be eliminated. However, he
explained that other caveats pertaining to detainee issues
will remain intact, albeit with more flexibility. Van der
Weerde added that the GONL has a bilateral MOU with the
Afghan government regarding detainees, which the Dutch would
honor regardless of separate NATO arrangements.
4. (C) On the Dutch caveat pertaining to F-16 support to
CFC-A, Zwangenburg said that the Dutch do not view this
"technically" as a caveat. He noted that the Dutch
parliament wants to ensure a "firewall" between OEF and ISAF
operations. The Dutch provision as written allows Dutch
F-16s to provide support to CFC-A "in extremis." However,
any pre-planned support for CFC-A would constitute
premeditated participation in OEF operations by Dutch forces
-- the Dutch parliament would not allow this, he said. "In
extremis" support, on the other hand, does not require
parliamentary approval and would be provided as needed based
on determinations made in the field.
ARNALL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RPM, EUR/UBI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2016
TAGS: NATO MARR PREL AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ISAF: DUTCH REVISING CAVEATS
REF: STATE 74035
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) Summary: The GONL will soon submit through its
delegation at NATO revised caveats to the new ISAF rules of
engagement. These caveats will be less restrictive than
current caveats and are intended to protect Dutch interests
with regard to detainee issues and deconfliction between OEF
and ISAF operations. DATT and Polmiloff discussed reftel
with MFA Senior Advisor Devi van der Weerde, MOD Legal
Advisor Maartin Zwangenburg, and MOD Senior Advisor for
General Policy Affairs David van Weel on May 18. End summary.
2. (C) In response to reftel points, Zwangenburg and van Weel
noted that the current Dutch caveats do not impose geographic
restrictions on Dutch operations, nor will they require
referral to parliament. They agreed that every effort should
be taken to ensure that ISAF operations are efficient and
effective as possible. Zwangenburg said the GONL had
reviewed its current caveats with efficiency/effectiveness in
mind and had nearly finished revising them to reflect the new
ISAF rules of engagement (ROEs). He anticipated that the
GONL would brief specific changes directly to NATO in the
near future.
3. (C) DATT and polmiloff pressed for details of the
revisions. Zwangenburg said that the revised caveats would
be less restrictive than current ones. For example, he
expected the Dutch caveat pertaining to riot agents (ROE 321
in the old ISAF ROEs) to be eliminated. However, he
explained that other caveats pertaining to detainee issues
will remain intact, albeit with more flexibility. Van der
Weerde added that the GONL has a bilateral MOU with the
Afghan government regarding detainees, which the Dutch would
honor regardless of separate NATO arrangements.
4. (C) On the Dutch caveat pertaining to F-16 support to
CFC-A, Zwangenburg said that the Dutch do not view this
"technically" as a caveat. He noted that the Dutch
parliament wants to ensure a "firewall" between OEF and ISAF
operations. The Dutch provision as written allows Dutch
F-16s to provide support to CFC-A "in extremis." However,
any pre-planned support for CFC-A would constitute
premeditated participation in OEF operations by Dutch forces
-- the Dutch parliament would not allow this, he said. "In
extremis" support, on the other hand, does not require
parliamentary approval and would be provided as needed based
on determinations made in the field.
ARNALL