NETHERLANDS/TURKEY: ACCESSION DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002564

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/TURKEY: ACCESSION DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT
BLEAK

REF: A. STATE 195044

B. DEC 5 E-MAIL "POLITICS IN THE NETHERLANDS" (NOTAL)

Classified By: DCM Chat Blakeman; reasons 1.4 (b, d).


1. Summary: (SBU) The GONL supports the goal of Turkish
accession but continues to insist that the Turks meet their
obligations, particularly the opening of northern Cypriot
ports. The GONL is fighting to avoid a formal suspension of,
or an outright deadline for ending, accession negotiations.
An ongoing parliamentary debate, however, does not bode well.
End summary.


2. (U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche December 5 to MFA
Deputy European Correspondent Jeroen Boender. Boender
promised to have a thorough look at the document later but
offered immediate comment on Turkish accession.

Dutch Parliamentary debate bodes poorly for Turks
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3. (C) Parliament held the first of two debates on Turkish
accession December 6. The second debate is expected December
7 or 8. Foreign Minister Bot on December 4 sent Parliament a
letter explaining the Government's position (ref B). He
called for adhering to the conditions laid out in the
accession negotiations and twice emphasized that this would
result in de facto suspension of accession negotiations on
some chapters. He added that the GONL favored linking more
than eight chapters to the opening of northern Cypriot ports.
Boender explained that Bot hoped, by calling for a firm EU
stance, he could outmaneuver Parliamentarians bent on
formally suspending negotiations or setting a final deadline
for Turkish compliance.


4. (C) The December 6 debate appears to have gone poorly.
Junior coalition partner VVD (the conservative Liberals) all
but abandoned the Government, with VVD foreign policy
spokesman Hans van Baalen calling for a suspension on the
opening of negotiations on any new chapters. Only opposition
parties Green Left and D-66 supported the Government's
position. The Socialists called for a complete freeze on
negotiations.


5. (C) PvdA (Labor) took a more moderate approach, saying
that the Netherlands should not take a tougher line than
Cyprus or Greece. Labor foreign policy spokesman Bert
Koenders agreed with Bot that the EU, including Cyprus and
Greece, must do more to make negotiations work. He was
clear, however, that Labor wanted Turkey to be held
accountable for failure to meet its obligations.

Parliament may consider tough resolution
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6. (C) A second debate will take place December 7 or 8 and
will open the way for Parliament to vote on a resolution.
According to Boender, the resolution will likely be at least
as tough as Parliament's resolution last year, which called
for an immediate suspension of negotiations should Turkey
fail to implement the Ankara protocol by the end of 2006. A
resolution would not bind the caretaker Government, and its
impact might well depend on the composition of the next
Government.


7. (C) Parliament could, as an alternative, call for a date
certain for full Turkish compliance. Mark Rutte, leader of
VVD had suggested shortly before the November 22 national
elections that the Turks be given two years, after which
negotiations would be permanently halted. Bot is still
hoping to avoid this, despite the announcement by Germany and
France that they will seek an 18-month deadline.
ARNALL