NETHERLANDS/CFE: DUTCH ADAPTED CFE RATIFICATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001525

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL KFCE NATO NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/CFE: DUTCH ADAPTED CFE RATIFICATION
POSSIBLE BY SUMMER 2008

REF: SECSTATE 116194

Classified By: Andrew Schofer, Charge D'Affaires, for reasons 1.4(b) an
d (d)


1. (C) On August 21, Vincent van Zeijst, Deputy Head of the
Arms Control and Arms Export Policy Division at the MFA, told
poloff that ratification of the Adapted CFE by summer 2008
would be "ambitious but not impossible." Discussing reftel
points, Van Zeijst noted that such a timeline would usually
be difficult because the treaty must be approved by two
chambers of parliament and the State Council. However, FM
Verhagen would likely push for priority treatment of the
treaty by the legislature, given that the CFE is a
"cornerstone" of Dutch security policy. Van Zeijst promised
to give a formal response to reftel points through the
Netherlands' NATO delegation prior to the September 13 HLTF
meeting.


2. (C) Van Zeijst noted that this spring the United States
had rejected a similar, Dutch proposal for parallel action
timeline on the Istanbul commitments and CFE ratification.
He advised starting the ratification process in all countries
this fall, given the different ratification timelines for
each country.
Schofer