NETHERLANDS: JUNE GAERC PRE-BRIEF

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001153 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EUN ENRG ETRD ETTC KPAL PARM PGOV SOCI CU, NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: JUNE GAERC PRE-BRIEF REF: STATE 80034 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Dutch eagerly await details of the German proposal for a European treaty. Barring sufficient changes in size, form, and content, a new treaty is unlikely to win passage in the Netherlands. The Dutch hope for a robust Sudan sanctions package from the UN but are prepared to go the EU route as an alternative. They continue to view the temporary mechanism as the only viable means of providing assistance to the Palestinian people but are not confident their views will prevail in the Council conclusions. The Dutch advocate delaying a resolution on the death penalty. End summary. ¶2. (U) Poloff delivered reftel points June 12 to MFA Deputy European Correspondent Rochus Pronk. On June 13, Pronk and MFA Director for European Integration, Kees van Rij, delivered MFA's monthly pre-GAERC briefing for non-EU diplomatic missions. Poloff and intern attended. ¶3. (SBU) According to van Rij, the Dutch favor plans for third country migration agreements now under consideration but would like to see more detail. The Dutch do not expect the Council to reach a final decision. ¶4. (SBU) On the European treaty, van Rij emphasized, the GONL cannot send to parliament any new document unless it is substantially different in size, format and content from the existing European Constitution treaty. The GONL hopes that enough issues of size and format can be resolved by the Council to allow the IGC to focus on substance. (Comment: A treaty would go either to the Dutch parliament or to a referendum. Most observers agree that a referendum would again fail and that the government would collapse. End comment.) ¶3. (SBU) Pronk briefed on external political affairs: Cuba: Pronk predicted the EU would maintain the restrictive measures and invite the Cubans to Brussels. He said, though, that a failure by the Cubans to accept the invitation could lead to a reassessment of the measures' effectiveness at the next Council (December). Western Balkans: The Dutch are pleasantly surprised by Serbia's new level of cooperation with the ICTY. Pronk maintained, however, that the GONL would continue to insist on full compliance as a pre-condition to an accession agreement. Middle East: The Dutch continue to believe that the temporary mechanism is the only viable instrument for providing basic support to the Palestinian people. They are uncertain how the Council conclusions will look. Pronk said the GONL firmly supports the U.S. initiative for a June 26 joint Quartet meeting. Sudan: Pronk said that, although President Bashir has accepted a UN-AU hybrid mission, sanctions should stay on the table and that pressure should continue to be placed on the Sudanese government. The Dutch continue to express their preference for a UN sanctions regime, but continue to say that should the UN fail to pass such a package, EU sanctions are their "plan B." According to Pronk, "plan C" still does not exist. Moratorium on the Death Penalty: The Dutch are concerned that a resolution will fall roughly 29 votes short of the majority 97 needed. They are, according to Pronk, advocating continued lobbying rather than a resolution now. ARNALL