Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06THEHAGUE1357
2006-06-16 10:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: DEMARCHE ON ANTI-NGO LAW
how-toVZCZCXRO1324 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTC #1357 1671052 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161052Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6038 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0619
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001357
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2011
TAGS: PHUM EAID KDEM PGOV PREL VE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: DEMARCHE ON ANTI-NGO LAW
REF: STATE 97547
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001357
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2011
TAGS: PHUM EAID KDEM PGOV PREL VE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: DEMARCHE ON ANTI-NGO LAW
REF: STATE 97547
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche June 15 to MFA
Venzuela desk officer Dimitri Vogelaar. According to
Vogelaar, the NGO law was raised in the June 6 COLAT working
group, at the EU. On June 8, a resident European Union
representative met in Caracas with the Vice Foreign Minister
for European Affairs and expressed concern. On the same day,
France, Canada, and the UNDP met with the chairman of the
Parliamentary Committee for External Affairs, Mr. Ortega.
Vogelaar said other donors may also have attended the
meeting. The Netherlands did not send a representative, he
said, because it does not have a large development assistance
program in Venezuela.
2. (C) According to Vogelaar, Ortega defended the draft (as
expected) but promised to discuss the donors' concerns in
parliament. The UNDP, Vogelaar heard, registered its strong
concern. The Dutch believe that this might have made an
impression on Ortega, as the UNDP runs large assistance
programs in the country.
3. (C) According to Vogelaar, donors have noticed that the
law does not appear to provide a structure for approving
assistance to human rights organizations. Vogelaar had not
seen the draft law personally, but said that the MFA was
engaged on this issue as the GONL is concered about its
possible impact on Dutch-sponsored human rights programs.
BLAKEMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2011
TAGS: PHUM EAID KDEM PGOV PREL VE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: DEMARCHE ON ANTI-NGO LAW
REF: STATE 97547
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche June 15 to MFA
Venzuela desk officer Dimitri Vogelaar. According to
Vogelaar, the NGO law was raised in the June 6 COLAT working
group, at the EU. On June 8, a resident European Union
representative met in Caracas with the Vice Foreign Minister
for European Affairs and expressed concern. On the same day,
France, Canada, and the UNDP met with the chairman of the
Parliamentary Committee for External Affairs, Mr. Ortega.
Vogelaar said other donors may also have attended the
meeting. The Netherlands did not send a representative, he
said, because it does not have a large development assistance
program in Venezuela.
2. (C) According to Vogelaar, Ortega defended the draft (as
expected) but promised to discuss the donors' concerns in
parliament. The UNDP, Vogelaar heard, registered its strong
concern. The Dutch believe that this might have made an
impression on Ortega, as the UNDP runs large assistance
programs in the country.
3. (C) According to Vogelaar, donors have noticed that the
law does not appear to provide a structure for approving
assistance to human rights organizations. Vogelaar had not
seen the draft law personally, but said that the MFA was
engaged on this issue as the GONL is concered about its
possible impact on Dutch-sponsored human rights programs.
BLAKEMAN