HIV/AIDS: DUTCH SEEK BROAD-BASED COOPERATION

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002235 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR S/GAC (MCIFF),AF/RSA (BITTRICK),AF/SPG (SMALL) DEFENSE FOR DHAPP (SHAFFER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID KHIV NL UNGA AF SUBJECT: HIV/AIDS: DUTCH SEEK BROAD-BASED COOPERATION REF: STATE 110817 ¶1. SUMMARY: The Dutch want to significantly expand bilateral cooperation on HIV/AIDS in Africa and seek State concurrence to develop these initiatives. See Action Request in paragraphs 5-7. END SUMMARY. ¶2. In response to reftel request for ideas to reinvigorate the 2003 U.S.-Dutch bilateral agreement on HIV/AIDS cooperation, Post arranged for meetings this summer between a visiting delegation from the Department of Defense's HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP) and representatives from the Dutch ministries of Defense (MOD) and Foreign Affairs (MFA). Over the course of the summer and fall, Econoff met with relevant MFA officials to develop ideas raised during these meetings. -------------- - Opportunities for Country-Specific Cooperation -------------- - ¶3. Dutch officials and DHAPP have identified the following country-specific opportunities for Dutch-USG cooperation: --Explore whether South Africa is open to USG participation in a future Dutch HIV/AIDS mission to identify opportunities for cooperation. --Jointly encourage the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to take a leadership role in Sudan and cooperate in seeking additional military representatives for the Sudan Aids in the Military Task Force. Dutch AIDS Ambassador Paul Bekkers and two other MFA representatives will attend the December 7-8 UNAIDS meeting to discuss this issue. --Counsel and test international and local armed groups involved in the Congo conflict prior to their demobilization. The MFA is interested in exploring whether DHAPP's cooperative program with Population Services International could supplement existing Dutch HIV/AIDS educational campaigns in the Congo. --Cooperate in voluntary counseling and testing in Burundi and the Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Program (MDRP),to which the GONL has contributed $100 million. --Introduce the Dutch to PharmAccess International (PAI), with whom DHAPP has contracted to organize a country-wide prevention and treatment program for the Tanzania People's Defense Forces. DHAPP seeks to increase PAI access to the wide variety of materials and resources already developed for military HIV/AIDS prevention programs and to investigate the possibility of expanding PAI activities. DHAPP has offered to coordinate an introductory meeting between PAI, DHAPP, and the Dutch, but does not want to proceed without State concurrence. --Integrate HIV/AIDS educational material into peace keeper training in Mali, Ghana, Burundi, and Sudan. DHAPP has agreed to send its training materials to the Dutch and to identify a cooperation mechanism. The MFA plans to brief Dutch military officers on HIV/AIDS programs, policies, and main issues in-country. -------------- Opportunities for Overall Cooperation -------------- ¶4. Dutch officials and DHAPP identified the following opportunities for general cooperation: --Identify Defense Attaches (DATTs) in target countries who would be responsible for following HIV/AIDS issues as a step toward possible cooperation between DATTs in-country. MFA officials encouraged U.S. DATTs to cooperate on HIV/AIDS initiatives and to visit with their in-country Dutch counterparts. --Speak with a "common voice" in the African Union (AU). The Dutch believe that more can be accomplished if the U.S., Netherlands, and other donors coordinate their messages and that cooperation in the AU should cover all HIV/AIDS issues and not just those related to security. --Send Dutch military attaches to the "informal task force on uniformed services" in Washington, in which the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),UNAIDS, and DoD participate. --Explore whether USG programs such as the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance program (ACOTA) should include an element of HIV/AIDS training and whether opportunities exist for cooperation in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention in military settings. -------------- Action Request -------------- ¶5. The Dutch MFA is ready to move forward with the suggestions outlined in paras 3 and 4. According to MFA contacts, Dutch AIDS Ambassador Bekkers "wants cooperation to mean more than just a MOU" and seeks "specific cooperation in-country." The Dutch MFA, therefore, seeks the State Department's concurrence in exploring these areas of cooperation with DHAPP in close coordination with the State Department through S/GAC and Embassy The Hague. Please advise. ¶6. DHAPP POC is Richard Shaffer, Executive Director, DoD HIV/AIDS Prevention Program. Email: Shaffer@nhrc.navy.mil. ¶7. Embassy POC is Jason Heung, Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy The Hague. Phone: 31-70-310-2339. Email: HeungJ2@state.gov BLAKEMAN