NETHERLANDS/AZERBAIJAN: SUPPORT BUT LIMITED

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001448 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AJ EUN KDEM OSCE PGOV PHUM PREL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AZERBAIJAN: SUPPORT BUT LIMITED INVOLVEMENT REF: SECSTATE 99391 ¶1. On July 27, Poloff delivered non paper to Thymen A. Kouwenaar, Department Head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Division in the MFA, on Dutch coordination with the USG on promoting democracy and human rights in Azerbaijan. Kouwenaar mentioned that while the Dutch support the USG position, they do not have an embassy in Baku and lack strong ties with Azerbaijan. He could not provide any concrete information but said he would contact poloff if he received more details on Dutch human rights involvement in Azerbaijan. ¶2. On July 30, Kouwenaar's superior, Henk Voskamp, contacted poloff to follow up on the discussion with Kouwenaar. Voskamp repeated Kouwenaar's message that the Dutch are not very actively engaged in this area but support USG efforts. He also assured poloff that he would provide information should the occasion arise. GALLAGHER