NETHERLANDS/LEBANON: RESPONSE TO UNIFIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001798 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR P, EUR, NEA, PM, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016 TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL LE NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/LEBANON: RESPONSE TO UNIFIL CONTRIBUTION DEMARCHE REF: A. STATE 134133 ¶B. THE HAGUE 1739 ¶C. THE HAGUE 1782 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Chat Blakeman, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Charge delivered ref A demarche August 16 to Laurent Stokvis, the assistant-secretary equivalent who heads the MFA's Western Hemisphere division, and left the non-paper behind. Stokvis said the Dutch were focused primarily on humanitarian assistance in Lebanon but were "thinking" about other possibilities. He noted, however, that such possibilities were few given the large Dutch deployment in Afghanistan and smaller deployments in Iraq, the Balkans, and Africa. "We are fully committed" in other missions, Stokvis said. "We have never been committed so fully." He added that the new Dutch ambassador in Washington, Christiaan Kroner, had discussed the situation in the Middle East with the Secretary during his presentation of credentials August ¶15. ¶2. (C) Stokvis's comments were consistent with what Ambassador Arnall was told in meetings this week and last with Prime Minister Balkenende, Foreign Minister Bot, Defense Minister Kamp, and Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Berlijn (refs B and C). All suggested that the Dutch were "stretched too thin" in current operations, and UNIFIL troop contributions would detract from the GONL's ability to successfully carry out these missions -- especially in Afghanistan. That said, these interlocutors told Ambassador Arnall that the Dutch would consider a small, niche role in the international force, such as a maritime contribution. ¶3. (C) Embassy will remain engaged on this issue at the highest level. BLAKEMAN