Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06THEHAGUE763
2006-04-07 16:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/EU: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF
how-toVZCZCXRO6356 OO RUEHAG RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTC #0763/01 0971603 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071603Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5347 INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 0284 RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0183 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 1112 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0289 RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 0419
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000763
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2011
TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD EUN YI MW SR BK BO IR UP SY
LE, NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF
THE APRIL 10 GAERC
REF: A. A) STATE 53022
B. B) STATE 55459
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew J. Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000763
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2011
TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD EUN YI MW SR BK BO IR UP SY
LE, NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF
THE APRIL 10 GAERC
REF: A. A) STATE 53022
B. B) STATE 55459
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew J. Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Poloff delivered reftel demarche April 7 to
MFA European Correspondent Desiree Kopmels and Deputy
Correspondent Bahia Tahzib-Lie. The Dutch do not expect the
Balkans to be on the GAERC agenda and are content to let UN
Special Envoy Ahtisaari set the pace for future status talks.
On Belarus, the GONL is "very pleased" that the EU will
issue a visa ban on 31 Belarusian government individuals, but
is skeptical about the political and technical feasibility of
an asset freeze. The Dutch remain opposed to opening
discussions with Ukraine on EU accession. With regard to
Iran, the Dutch will support continuing EU pressure but want
to know how far the U.S. is willing to go. The GONL will
press for tougher EU guidelines on contacts with Hamas while
finding ways to maintain provisions for basic needs. END
SUMMARY.
Balkans
--------------
2. (C) Kopmels said that the Balkans would not be on the
GAERC agenda. With regard to Kosovo, she noted that the GONL
was content to allow UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari to decide on
the timing for expanding the scope of status talks. She
added that the Dutch want to ensure that minority rights and
minority returns are both given due attention and that the
latter does not crowd out the former. On ICTY cooperation,
she said that the GONL would support the "tribunal," if it
decided to cease negotiations with Belgrade on the handover
of Mladic and others, were that decision based on a finding
of insufficient progress. (Note: The prosecutor would
actually make this decision. End note.)
Belarus
--------------
3. (C) The GONL is "very pleased," Kopmels said, that the
GAERC will take a decision on a visa ban list of 31
individuals, including Belarusian President Lukashenko. The
GONL is irritated that there was, until late in the week, an
apparent lack of urgency on the part of some in the EU to
place the issue on the agenda. She said the GONL had not
decided whether to point fingers but would probably not do
so.
4. (C) The MFA is interested in asset freezes, according to
Kopmels, and would like to include a significant share of
those individuals who are on the list of 31. She believes,
though, that, for a variety of reasons, freezes are unlikely
to gain full GONL or EU support.
5. (C) The GONL would like to redirect some TACIS funding, in
order to provide aid directly to pro-democracy elements.
TACIS funding must be approved by the host country government.
Ukraine
--------------
6. (C) The GONL is pleased with the conduct of the Ukrainian
elections and is watching closely the formation of a new
government. The GONL remains firmly opposed, however, to
discussion at this time of Ukrainian EU membership, she said.
Iran
--------------
7. (C) Kopmels said the GONL welcomes the UNSC and P-5 plus
Germany statements. It expects this and the question of
human rights to figure prominently in the GAERC. She asked
how far the U.S. will push on Iran. She noted that, within
the Dutch MFA, there is a feeling that, if the U.S. is not
willing, at some point, to push for sanctions, then pursuing
the matter in the UNSC may prove hollow and
counterproductive. She noted that both Germany and Russia
had urged the U.S. to hold discussions with the Iranians and
asked what we thought about the matter.
MEPP
--------------
THE HAGUE 00000763 002 OF 002
8. (C) The GONL will push for EU guidelines on contact with
Hamas. Kopmels said that the Dutch are in favor of
continuing the provision of basic needs. Hamas should, she
said, be cut out of the financial loop. Contacts with
President Mahmoud Abbas could, however, continue. The GONL
will push also for EU pressure on Israel regarding VAT and
customs payments and Gaza border closings.
Lebanon/Syria
--------------
9. (C) Lebanon and Syria will not be on the agenda, according
to Kopmels.
ARNALL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2011
TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD EUN YI MW SR BK BO IR UP SY
LE, NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF
THE APRIL 10 GAERC
REF: A. A) STATE 53022
B. B) STATE 55459
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew J. Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Poloff delivered reftel demarche April 7 to
MFA European Correspondent Desiree Kopmels and Deputy
Correspondent Bahia Tahzib-Lie. The Dutch do not expect the
Balkans to be on the GAERC agenda and are content to let UN
Special Envoy Ahtisaari set the pace for future status talks.
On Belarus, the GONL is "very pleased" that the EU will
issue a visa ban on 31 Belarusian government individuals, but
is skeptical about the political and technical feasibility of
an asset freeze. The Dutch remain opposed to opening
discussions with Ukraine on EU accession. With regard to
Iran, the Dutch will support continuing EU pressure but want
to know how far the U.S. is willing to go. The GONL will
press for tougher EU guidelines on contacts with Hamas while
finding ways to maintain provisions for basic needs. END
SUMMARY.
Balkans
--------------
2. (C) Kopmels said that the Balkans would not be on the
GAERC agenda. With regard to Kosovo, she noted that the GONL
was content to allow UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari to decide on
the timing for expanding the scope of status talks. She
added that the Dutch want to ensure that minority rights and
minority returns are both given due attention and that the
latter does not crowd out the former. On ICTY cooperation,
she said that the GONL would support the "tribunal," if it
decided to cease negotiations with Belgrade on the handover
of Mladic and others, were that decision based on a finding
of insufficient progress. (Note: The prosecutor would
actually make this decision. End note.)
Belarus
--------------
3. (C) The GONL is "very pleased," Kopmels said, that the
GAERC will take a decision on a visa ban list of 31
individuals, including Belarusian President Lukashenko. The
GONL is irritated that there was, until late in the week, an
apparent lack of urgency on the part of some in the EU to
place the issue on the agenda. She said the GONL had not
decided whether to point fingers but would probably not do
so.
4. (C) The MFA is interested in asset freezes, according to
Kopmels, and would like to include a significant share of
those individuals who are on the list of 31. She believes,
though, that, for a variety of reasons, freezes are unlikely
to gain full GONL or EU support.
5. (C) The GONL would like to redirect some TACIS funding, in
order to provide aid directly to pro-democracy elements.
TACIS funding must be approved by the host country government.
Ukraine
--------------
6. (C) The GONL is pleased with the conduct of the Ukrainian
elections and is watching closely the formation of a new
government. The GONL remains firmly opposed, however, to
discussion at this time of Ukrainian EU membership, she said.
Iran
--------------
7. (C) Kopmels said the GONL welcomes the UNSC and P-5 plus
Germany statements. It expects this and the question of
human rights to figure prominently in the GAERC. She asked
how far the U.S. will push on Iran. She noted that, within
the Dutch MFA, there is a feeling that, if the U.S. is not
willing, at some point, to push for sanctions, then pursuing
the matter in the UNSC may prove hollow and
counterproductive. She noted that both Germany and Russia
had urged the U.S. to hold discussions with the Iranians and
asked what we thought about the matter.
MEPP
--------------
THE HAGUE 00000763 002 OF 002
8. (C) The GONL will push for EU guidelines on contact with
Hamas. Kopmels said that the Dutch are in favor of
continuing the provision of basic needs. Hamas should, she
said, be cut out of the financial loop. Contacts with
President Mahmoud Abbas could, however, continue. The GONL
will push also for EU pressure on Israel regarding VAT and
customs payments and Gaza border closings.
Lebanon/Syria
--------------
9. (C) Lebanon and Syria will not be on the agenda, according
to Kopmels.
ARNALL