DUTCH RESPONSE - IWC MEMBERSHIP DEMARCHE ON USG

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001034 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/OA (JOHN FIELD) USDOC FOR NMFS (CHERI MCCARTY) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA PREL IWC ETRD NL SUBJECT: DUTCH RESPONSE - IWC MEMBERSHIP DEMARCHE ON USG PRIORITIES REF: STATE 56397 ¶1. (U) On May 23, Emboff delivered reftel points to Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality Maaike Moolhuijsen, Senior Executive Officer - Whales and Stefan Verbunt, Senior Executive Officer - CITES and sought feedback on Dutch views. The GONL did not immediately respond to the points, but Verbunt confirmed that Moolhiujsen, who was already in Anchorage attending IWC committee meetings, was in regular contact with Commissioner Bill Hogarth and the USDel and had already exchanged views on USG priorities. ¶2. (SBU) Verbunt noted that the Dutch already enjoyed a very good relationship on a personal level with the USDel and believed that they had teamed up nicely during the previous annual meeting of the IWC. He noted that this year, the Dutch had the same expectation of a productive exchange with the USDel in advancing both U.S. priorities and like-minded Dutch priorities (which Verbunt would not share). ARNALL