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.

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Opportunities for Country-Specific Cooperation
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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.

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Opportunities for Overall Cooperation
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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.

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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