Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06THEHAGUE1758
2006-08-11 08:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/LEBANON: DUTCH WILL OPPOSE UNBALANCED
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C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001758
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL KPAO UNRCR NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/LEBANON: DUTCH WILL OPPOSE UNBALANCED
HRC RESOLUTION
REF: A. STATE 130904
B. STATE 130145
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROLAND ARNALL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001758
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL KPAO UNRCR NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/LEBANON: DUTCH WILL OPPOSE UNBALANCED
HRC RESOLUTION
REF: A. STATE 130904
B. STATE 130145
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROLAND ARNALL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary: The Dutch find the draft Human Rights
Council (HRC) resolution on Lebanon "unacceptable" and will
speak out against it publicly. According to Dutch Foreign
Minister Bot, the HRC risks making itself irrelevant by
adopting such a one-sided resolution. Although Bot has been
attacked in Parliament for his allegedly "pro-Israeli" views,
he told Ambassador Arnall on August 10 that the Dutch will
continue to take an "even-handed" approach to the situation
that takes Israel's legitimate security concerns into
account. Bot noted that Hizballah's unexpected staying power
had been an eye-opener for most Europeans, and privately
suggested that Hizballah and its backers needed to be "taught
a lesson." End Summary.
HRC DRAFT RESOLUTION "UNACCEPTABLE"
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador Arnall raised the upcoming special session
of the Human Rights Council (HRC) with Dutch Foreign Minister
Bot on August 10. Noting that the draft OIC-sponsored
resolution (ref a) was obviously and offensively one-sided,
the Ambassador urged Bot to take a clear, public stand
against it. Bot agreed that the draft resolution was
"unacceptable" and stressed that the Dutch would definitely
oppose it in the Council. He conceded, however, that the
resolution would probably still pass -- a result he said did
not augur well for the HRC's future.
3. (C) Noting that establishing the HRC had been a high
priority for the Dutch, Bot expressed frustration that the
organization appeared to be falling into the same
self-destructive pattern of its predecessor. Bot stressed
that the HRC would quickly lose credibility if it continued
act in such and "unbalanced" manner. Asked whether he
intended to state these views publicly, Bot responded that he
was prepared to use "the strongest language" to express Dutch
concerns.
4. (C) In separate conversation with POLCOUNS on August 9,
Acting MFA Political Director Wim Geerts said that the Dutch
were not happy about the special session, but had been
powerless to prevent it. While he had not seen the draft
resolution at that point, Geerts suggested that the Dutch
hoped to work with other WEOG members to "disassociate"
themselves from what he anticipated would be an unacceptable
text.
COUNTERING HIZBALLAH
--------------
5. (C) During a broader discussion of the situation in
Lebanon, Bot argued that the Western World "could not allow
itself to be held hostage by Iran and Hizballah." He
stressed that Hizballah's ability to withstand Israeli
attacks while continuing to rain rockets on Israel
demonstrated that Hizballah was stronger -- and more closely
linked to Tehran and Damascus -- than most Europeans had
realized. Although the media focus on Lebanese civilian
casualties was understandably generating public sympathy, he
added, there was also a growing realization of the need to
disarm Hizballah and "teach a lesson" to its backers.
6. (C) Bot noted that he had been bitterly attacked in
parliament for taking a "pro-Israeli" position in public
statements and at the August 1 GAERC meeting. Bot argued
that this was an unfair characterization of his "even-handed"
position, and criticized opposition Labor Party spokesman
Bert Koenders for seeking to exploit the issue for election
purposes. On the other hand, he made clear that he would
continue to ensure that Israel's legitimate security concerns
and right of self-defense were not forgotten in the public
debate. He added that the adoption of a UNSC resolution, the
deployment of a "serious" force to Southern Lebanon, and
credible efforts to disarm Hizballah would all help shift
attention in a positive direction.
ARNALL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL KPAO UNRCR NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/LEBANON: DUTCH WILL OPPOSE UNBALANCED
HRC RESOLUTION
REF: A. STATE 130904
B. STATE 130145
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROLAND ARNALL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary: The Dutch find the draft Human Rights
Council (HRC) resolution on Lebanon "unacceptable" and will
speak out against it publicly. According to Dutch Foreign
Minister Bot, the HRC risks making itself irrelevant by
adopting such a one-sided resolution. Although Bot has been
attacked in Parliament for his allegedly "pro-Israeli" views,
he told Ambassador Arnall on August 10 that the Dutch will
continue to take an "even-handed" approach to the situation
that takes Israel's legitimate security concerns into
account. Bot noted that Hizballah's unexpected staying power
had been an eye-opener for most Europeans, and privately
suggested that Hizballah and its backers needed to be "taught
a lesson." End Summary.
HRC DRAFT RESOLUTION "UNACCEPTABLE"
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador Arnall raised the upcoming special session
of the Human Rights Council (HRC) with Dutch Foreign Minister
Bot on August 10. Noting that the draft OIC-sponsored
resolution (ref a) was obviously and offensively one-sided,
the Ambassador urged Bot to take a clear, public stand
against it. Bot agreed that the draft resolution was
"unacceptable" and stressed that the Dutch would definitely
oppose it in the Council. He conceded, however, that the
resolution would probably still pass -- a result he said did
not augur well for the HRC's future.
3. (C) Noting that establishing the HRC had been a high
priority for the Dutch, Bot expressed frustration that the
organization appeared to be falling into the same
self-destructive pattern of its predecessor. Bot stressed
that the HRC would quickly lose credibility if it continued
act in such and "unbalanced" manner. Asked whether he
intended to state these views publicly, Bot responded that he
was prepared to use "the strongest language" to express Dutch
concerns.
4. (C) In separate conversation with POLCOUNS on August 9,
Acting MFA Political Director Wim Geerts said that the Dutch
were not happy about the special session, but had been
powerless to prevent it. While he had not seen the draft
resolution at that point, Geerts suggested that the Dutch
hoped to work with other WEOG members to "disassociate"
themselves from what he anticipated would be an unacceptable
text.
COUNTERING HIZBALLAH
--------------
5. (C) During a broader discussion of the situation in
Lebanon, Bot argued that the Western World "could not allow
itself to be held hostage by Iran and Hizballah." He
stressed that Hizballah's ability to withstand Israeli
attacks while continuing to rain rockets on Israel
demonstrated that Hizballah was stronger -- and more closely
linked to Tehran and Damascus -- than most Europeans had
realized. Although the media focus on Lebanese civilian
casualties was understandably generating public sympathy, he
added, there was also a growing realization of the need to
disarm Hizballah and "teach a lesson" to its backers.
6. (C) Bot noted that he had been bitterly attacked in
parliament for taking a "pro-Israeli" position in public
statements and at the August 1 GAERC meeting. Bot argued
that this was an unfair characterization of his "even-handed"
position, and criticized opposition Labor Party spokesman
Bert Koenders for seeking to exploit the issue for election
purposes. On the other hand, he made clear that he would
continue to ensure that Israel's legitimate security concerns
and right of self-defense were not forgotten in the public
debate. He added that the adoption of a UNSC resolution, the
deployment of a "serious" force to Southern Lebanon, and
credible efforts to disarm Hizballah would all help shift
attention in a positive direction.
ARNALL