NETHERLANDS/NATO/GEORGIA: DUTCH CONSIDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000705 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2016 TAGS: PREL NATO MARR NL GG SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/NATO/GEORGIA: DUTCH CONSIDER INTENSIFIED DIALOGUE REF: A. STATE 51994 ¶B. EUR/UBI-THE HAGUE E-MAIL ¶C. 3/29/06 Classified By: POLCOUNS ANDREW J. SCHOFER FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch do not rule out initiating an Intensified Dialogue (ID) with Georgia in advance of the April 27-28 informal Foreign Ministerial in Sofia. Before making a decision, however, they will need to review their position internally and with other allies, according to the Acting Director of the Dutch MFA's Department of Security Policy. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) POLCOUNS delivered ref a talking points to Hans Horbach, Acting Director of the Dutch MFA's Department of Security Policy, on April 3. Horbach said that the GONL was currently reviewing its position on Georgia and was grateful for the input. He noted that the GONL was "probably not as far along" in its thinking as the USG, and stressed that it was useful to know our position well in advance of the April 13 and April 27-28 NATO meetings. ¶3. (C) Drawing from ref b, POLCOUNS observed that Rob de Groot (Horbach's immediate superior) had discussed NATO-Georgia relations with EUR A/S Fried on March 27. De Groot had given the impression that the Dutch would be more comfortable beginning an ID than engaging on the basis of the Membership Action Plan (MAP),he added. Horbach agreed that MAP was "a bridge too far" for the Dutch, and promised to brief de Groot and other senior GONL officials on our talking points at the earliest opportunity. Any Dutch decision, he stressed, would be made only after extensive internal GONL consultations and discussions with key allies. ARNALL