Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE1265
2007-07-02 12:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

PARTNERSHIP FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE: DUTCH SHARE

Tags:  EAID OECD EUN NL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0012
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #1265/01 1831200
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 021200Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9704
INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN IMMEDIATE 4087
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 9377
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1350
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA IMMEDIATE 0677
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 0503
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001265 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UBI (RREITER)
PARIS FOR USOECD (SMCGINNIS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID OECD EUN NL
SUBJECT: PARTNERSHIP FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE: DUTCH SHARE
CONCERNS AND INDICATE ROOM FOR MANEUVER

REF: STATE 90020

THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE
ACCORDINGLY.

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001265

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UBI (RREITER)
PARIS FOR USOECD (SMCGINNIS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID OECD EUN NL
SUBJECT: PARTNERSHIP FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE: DUTCH SHARE
CONCERNS AND INDICATE ROOM FOR MANEUVER

REF: STATE 90020

THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE
ACCORDINGLY.


1. (SBU) Summary. While not opposed to the objectives of
the PDG, the GONL is concerned that implementation is moving
too quickly and that the PDG structure reduces accountability
while overlapping with existing development organizations and
efforts. The Dutch would remove their objections, and would
be open to forward progress at the July 3 DAC meeting, if the
PDG met five conditions that would increase links to existing
initiatives and the representation of recipient countries.
End Summary.


2. (U) Deputy Chief of Mission delivered on July 2 reftel
points and non-paper regarding the Partnership for Democratic
Governance (PDG) to Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Officials Aart Jacobi, Director for Human Rights,
Humanitarian Aid, and Peace Building, and Jan Huesken, Senior
Policy Advisor, Department of Human Rights and Peacebuilding.


3. (SBU) The officials noted that while the GONL remained
supportive of overall U.S. development and PDG principles,
they had four issues regarding structure and process. First,
the PDG might reduce a Government's accountability to its own
citizens, and a centralized PDG unit in a "Northern"
organization risked not taking the regional or
country-specific context into account, Huesken said. Second,
other organizations such as the Fragile States Group or the
Development Assistance Committee (DAC) were already engaged
in state and capacity building, he said, and added that
forming an additional group could lead to overlap and
contradicted OECD efforts toward streamlined operations and
increased efficiency. Third, Huesken said recent efforts to
institutionalize the PDG had taken the Dutch by "surprise,"
as the GONL had left the April 17 OECD workshop with the
impression that further discussions and a new proposal would
be developed first. Lastly, Jacobi questioned the added
value of the PDG, which would operate in a "crowded field"
already having many initiatives and other players such as the
UNDP.


4. (SBU) Jacobi said he understood the PDG was a U.S.
priority, and that the Dutch did not want to be "the one
country to spoil it." He said the Dutch would allow the PDG
to move forward at the July 3 DAC meeting if the following
five conditions were met and supported by other countries
having reservations:

-- First, that the Advisory Unit be located in the
development cluster and report to the Deputy Secretary
General responsible for development.
-- Second, that the PDG Steering Group, DAC Development
Governing Board, and the Steering Group from the Group du
Sahel form part of the development cluster. This would avoid
the problems that occurred in 2002 when the Club du Sahel had
to be incorporated into the development cluster, Jacobi said.
-- Third, that recipient countries have a voice. This,
Jacobi said, could be accomplished by either creating an
Steering Group advisory body of potential client countries,
or by having client countries represented in the Steering
Group through organizations the African Union, Organization
of American States, or UN Economic Commission for Africa.
-- Fourth, that PDG technical assistance be clarified and
made consistent with OECD policy on capacity building and the
DAC's recent priority identification exercise. The PDG
should avoid duplication with GovNet, the Fragile States
Group, and the Conflict Peace and Development Cooperation
group.
-- Fifth, that there should be a well designed exit strategy
for outsourced technical assistance and that the DAC should
assure that the exit strategy is followed.


5. (SBU) Jacobi said the Dutch Ambassador to the OECD would
have the authority to commit the Netherlands if these
conditions were met, and had "some leeway" to work with minor
variations. However, large deviation would require the
Ambassador to report back to The Hague, Jacobi noted.


6. (SBU) Both Dutch officials questioned why the PDG had to
be established, and said other organizations or work streams
could do it or be modified to accomplish the PDG's
objectives. They also questioned the urgency to establish

the PDG so quickly.
ARNALL