NETHERLANDS/AMIS DEMARCHE: DUTCH WILL APPROACH

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000473 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2011 TAGS: PREL IZ SU NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AMIS DEMARCHE: DUTCH WILL APPROACH ARAB LEAGUE MEMBERS AHEAD OF CAIRO REF: A) STATE 34709 B) STATE 32841 Classified By: POLCOUNS Andrew J. Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Dutch FM Bot will approach Arab League members and urge them not to support a Sudanese presidency and to keep AMIS rehatting on track, according to the Dutch MFA's Sudan Task Force. The Dutch are in agreement with us on the crucial elements of the proposed UN force and on how to get there. End summary. ¶2. (C) Poloff spoke March 1 and 3, respectively, with MFA Sudan task force advisors Stella Kloth and Sjord Sjordsma. Dutch action ahead of the Cairo meeting of Arab League foreign ministers continues to mirror ours. The MFA's Sudan task force, led by Sudan Special Envoy WGJM Wessels, will recommend today that FM Bot immediately contact Arab League members. The approach will be informal and will seek to forestall a Sudanese AL presidency. The Dutch understand fully that Arab League funding for AMIS would be inadequate but could lessen pressure for a rehat. ¶3. (C) The Dutch will advance three reasons for a rehatting, as the situation dictates. First, the force in Sudan needs a more robust mandate, increased mobility and better armament. Second, the GONL (and others) are unable to sustain current financial contributions in the AMIS framework. For this, a UN force, with UN peacekeeping funding mechanisms, is a necessity. Third, any Darfur force, the Dutch believe, is going to remain in-country for 3 to 4 years, something utterly impossible for the AU. ¶4. (C) The Dutch remain committed to the idea of an African led force and add that any NATO presence will be in the background. They believe NATO can and should provide whatever logistical and technical resources are necessary to help a UN force achieve its goals. However, they do not want white, western troops patrolling the streets and causing resentment. In this respect, they are troubled by what they see as gross mischaracterizations in the Dutch and U.S. media of SGSR Pronk's statements. They believe that what Pronk said was relatively consistent with our common policy and that the media reports have been extremely unhelpful. ARNALL