DUTCH INTEREST IN ACOTA, HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS AND

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 001364 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR KHIV PREF XY XW ZF NL SUBJECT: DUTCH INTEREST IN ACOTA, HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS AND ASSISTING UPDF ON LRA Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) Summary: Director of East African Affairs (and acting DAS) Eunice Reddick met June 14 with Wepke Kingma, the Director of the Dutch MFA's Africa Department. Also present on the Dutch side were Ambassador at Large for the Great Lakes Region, Fred Radke, and Head of East and Southern Africa Division, Wouter Plomp. Kingma underscored the change in Dutch position on assisting the Uganda Peoples' Defense Force, saying the GONL is now prepared to assist the UDPF in eliminating the Lords Resistance Army. Kingma and Plomp also stressed strong Dutch interest in providing personnel to staff vacancies in our Africa Contingency Operations Training Assistance (ACOTA) peacekeeper training programs and in learning more from us about military-to-military HIV/AIDS programs in Africa. End summary. ¶2. (S) The Dutch recently informed us that they have resolved their questions about LRA's human rights history and are willing to provide security assistance in eliminating the LRA. They expressed interest in knowing more about assistance we have provided to date, including intelligence sharing. Kingma repeated this to acting DAS Reddick June 14. To date, the Dutch have not provided concrete proposals for the sort of assistance they might be willing to provide, other than vague references to "security assistance." Based on conversations with AF/E, we suggested they contact the UPDF and begin discussions. Comment: Further consultations between State, DOD, and the Dutch DATT in Washington might now be appropriate. End comment. ¶3. (C) Kingma may accompany Radke on a visit to Washington on or around June 28. They hope to meet with AF Assistant Secretary Fraser and others. Among topics they wish to cover SIPDIS is a Dutch proposal to raise the Northern Uganda Core Group to a more senior level. While not committing to the proposal, Reddick encouraged the Dutch to visit for further discussions on the range of Northern Uganda issues. ¶4. (C) The Dutch were extremely interested in hearing about the range of USAID assistance programs in northern Uganda and the possibility of further, rapid expansion. They agree that the relative calm right now makes possible increased programs directed at a resolution of Acholi grievances and enhancement of development initiatives. They still do not see a commitment by the Government of Uganda to resolving the long term issues. ¶5. (U) The Dutch and we have worked closely over the past several months to identify positions in our ACOTA programs the Dutch might be able to fill. We have an excellent window of opportunity - Dutch MFA and military support for ACOTA participation is strong now, and we should make an offer as soon as possible. Washington offices in State (AF/RSA) and the Pentagon have identified Ghana as the most likely possibility. ¶6. (U) The Dutch Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs have both expressed strong interest in military-to-military HIV/AIDS programs in Africa. They understand the importance of HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention to any security assistance program in Africa and are working on enhancing awareness in the Dutch Ministry of Defense. To this end, five DOD HIV/AIDS specialists will arrive in The Hague June 18 for two days of consultations on US military programs in Africa. BLAKEMAN