NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN/AFRICA: GAME PLAN FOR NATO

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001383 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR/RPM, SCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO AF NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN/AFRICA: GAME PLAN FOR NATO CONSULTATIONS REF: THE HAGUE 1329 Classified By: CDA Michael Gallagher, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The GONL is wrapping up review of several investigations into civilian casualties resulting from the Dutch participation in heavy fighting around Chora several weeks ago. According to MFA Deputy Director for Conflict Prevention Joop Nijssen, the GONL will soon send a letter to the Dutch Parliament summarizing the investigations. While possible, Nijssen did not expect Parliament to convene an emergency session to discuss the results of the investigations. Nijssen said the Dutch also would soon send a "wish list" letter to SACEUR and NATO SYG de Hoop Scheffer regarding various extension options of its ISAF mission in Afghanistan. He confirmed the Dutch are reviewing possible contributions to the UN-AU hybrid force. Nijssen discussed these issues with polmiloff on July 20. End summary. Chora Investigations -------------- ¶2. (C) Nijssen said the four investigations (ISAF, Dutch military, Afghan Independent Human Rights Council (AIHRC), and Human Rights Watch) regarding civilian casualties resulting from the Dutch fighting in Chora were almost complete. The GONL will aim to send a letter to the Dutch Parliament by July 27 summarizing the investigations. He said the preliminary reading of the AIHRC report was "encouraging," especially as it suggests the Dutch had gone to great lengths to warn the civilian population of Chora to evacuate prior to the fighting. While Nijssen did not discount the possibility that Parliament might decide to return to The Hague for an emergency session to discuss the results of the investigation, he suggested that the investigations thus far had unveiled "no surprises," and the Dutch were confident that they had acted appropriately in Chora. NATO Consultations on Extension -------------- ¶3. (C) Nijssen said the GONL would send instructions July 20 to the Dutch Permanent Representative and Military Representative at NATO to approach both SACEUR and NATO SYG de Hoop Scheffer by the end of next week with a letter detailing the Dutch "wish list" for possible additional contributions toward an extended Dutch mission in Uruzgan. Nijssen said this approach was aimed at NATO "taking ownership" of finding suitable Allies to potentially assist the Dutch. While the letter will contain tasks the Dutch would like to see NATO fill, it will not list possible Allies to fill those tasks. Nijssen emphasized that NATO should find the appropriate contributors. He acknowledged, however, that while the Dutch will informally make suggestions of possible contributors, the Dutch "cannot be picky" at this point. ¶4. (C) Nijssen was not comfortable divulging the contents of the letter. He repeated similar examples listed reftel, including the possibility of another Ally contributing a field hospital, assuming responsibility for guarding the base in Tarin Kowt, or providing F-16 support. (Comment: DAO contacts report that the Dutch are talking to the Swedes about the possibility of replacing Dutch F-16s in Kandahar with Swedish Grippens. Dutch contacts listed some Grippen maintenance issues, but said the Swedes are promising to deploy the "best Grippens." End comment.) He said that once SACEUR and SYG de Hoop Scheffer receive the Dutch "wish list," the Dutch delegation would brief RC-South contributors through their delegations at NATO. Nijssen said that the Dutch would work with SACEUR and de Hoop Scheffer -- as well as on their own in a bilateral capacity -- to "put pressure" on other Allies to contribute. He welcomed any support the United States might be able to provide following the release of the letter. ¶5. (C) In response to concerns regarding force generation for helicopter support, Nijssen said that the Dutch until recently had been "hamstrung" by their inability to get a "greenlight" from the six key ministers involved in the extension question. He said that following the meeting last week in which the six ministers "gave their blessing" to proceed, the Dutch will now become more active and vocal in trying to resolve the potential helicopter gap, especially as helicopters will most likely be included in the letter to SACEUR and de Hoop Scheffer. Africa Contribution? -------------- ¶6. (C) Nijssen noted that the GONL had sent a letter to Parliament on July 13 indicating the GONL would review possible contributions toward the UN-AU hybrid force. He said the Dutch review process is early, and that they are looking at all options. But one strong possibility might entail teaming with Sweden to deploy a field hospital in support of the mission. Nijssen said the Dutch also are talking to France regarding its mission to Chad; he expected Poland and Sweden to participate in that mission in some capacity. GALLAGHER