Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE1957
2007-11-01 14:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/CUBA: QUALIFIED SUPPORT AT THE EU AND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0014 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHTC #1957 3051412 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 011412Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0640 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0051 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0569 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4342
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001957
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: UNGA PHUM EU NL CU
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/CUBA: QUALIFIED SUPPORT AT THE EU AND
UN
REF: A. A. SECSTATE 147620
B. B. SECSTATE 148553
C. C. SECSTATE 148506
Classified By: Andrew Schofer, Political Counselor, for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001957
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: UNGA PHUM EU NL CU
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/CUBA: QUALIFIED SUPPORT AT THE EU AND
UN
REF: A. A. SECSTATE 147620
B. B. SECSTATE 148553
C. C. SECSTATE 148506
Classified By: Andrew Schofer, Political Counselor, for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d)
1. (U) SUMMARY: POLOFF raised reftel A-C points with Jan Jaap
Groenemeijer, Senior Staff Officer in the Western Hemisphere
Department, as well as Ms. Maryem van den Heuvel, Director
for Human Rights, and Reneko Elema, Senior Policy Officer for
Human Rights. On November 1, Charge D'Affaires raised reftel
A points with Jos Schellars, Deputy Director for the Western
Hemisphere Department. The Dutch offered qualified support
for U.S. initiatives on Cuba. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) CUBA'S ANTI-EMBARGO RESOLUTION: In discussions at the
EU regarding the Explanation of Vote, the Dutch supported
laying the groundwork for future negotiations while stressing
the importance of freeing political prisoners.
3. (U) JOINT U.S.-EU DEMARCHE TO UNSYG, UN SPECIAL
RAPPORTEURS: The EU will deliberate and decide on the U.S.
proposals during the coming week. The thrust of the demarche
to the UN was good, and of course the Dutch share our goals.
Engaging the UN is a 'good idea.' However, the Dutch see a
joint demarche as unlikely given the current split in the EU
on Cuba policy. Separate U.S. and EU demarches, or some
less formal discussion with UN actors, might be more
acceptable to the EU as a whole.
4. (C) DECEMBER 10 INITIATIVES AT THE UN: First, on the
Cuba-specific event, the Netherlands supports the idea of
pressuring Cuba to support human rights and release political
prisoners. At the same time, the Netherlands is mindful of
the impact on the prisoners, wanting to avoid any harm.
Again, however, the EU as whole would be unlikely to
participate. Regarding the UNGA resolution on political
prisoners, the proposal seems positive in that it doesn't
mention Cuba specifically. However, there is "not a lot of
enthusiasm' within the Dutch MFA for the resolution due to
many questions about the modalities -- the wording, the
impact on other resolutions, the timing, and the venue
(perhaps the Human Rights Council would be better).
5. (C) PRESIDENT'S SPEECH AND INITIATIVES ON CUBA:
Groenemeijer stated that the President appeared to be
announcing a 'stronger' Cuba policy, noting that the Cubans
responded to the statement as a threat.
Gallagher
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: UNGA PHUM EU NL CU
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/CUBA: QUALIFIED SUPPORT AT THE EU AND
UN
REF: A. A. SECSTATE 147620
B. B. SECSTATE 148553
C. C. SECSTATE 148506
Classified By: Andrew Schofer, Political Counselor, for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d)
1. (U) SUMMARY: POLOFF raised reftel A-C points with Jan Jaap
Groenemeijer, Senior Staff Officer in the Western Hemisphere
Department, as well as Ms. Maryem van den Heuvel, Director
for Human Rights, and Reneko Elema, Senior Policy Officer for
Human Rights. On November 1, Charge D'Affaires raised reftel
A points with Jos Schellars, Deputy Director for the Western
Hemisphere Department. The Dutch offered qualified support
for U.S. initiatives on Cuba. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) CUBA'S ANTI-EMBARGO RESOLUTION: In discussions at the
EU regarding the Explanation of Vote, the Dutch supported
laying the groundwork for future negotiations while stressing
the importance of freeing political prisoners.
3. (U) JOINT U.S.-EU DEMARCHE TO UNSYG, UN SPECIAL
RAPPORTEURS: The EU will deliberate and decide on the U.S.
proposals during the coming week. The thrust of the demarche
to the UN was good, and of course the Dutch share our goals.
Engaging the UN is a 'good idea.' However, the Dutch see a
joint demarche as unlikely given the current split in the EU
on Cuba policy. Separate U.S. and EU demarches, or some
less formal discussion with UN actors, might be more
acceptable to the EU as a whole.
4. (C) DECEMBER 10 INITIATIVES AT THE UN: First, on the
Cuba-specific event, the Netherlands supports the idea of
pressuring Cuba to support human rights and release political
prisoners. At the same time, the Netherlands is mindful of
the impact on the prisoners, wanting to avoid any harm.
Again, however, the EU as whole would be unlikely to
participate. Regarding the UNGA resolution on political
prisoners, the proposal seems positive in that it doesn't
mention Cuba specifically. However, there is "not a lot of
enthusiasm' within the Dutch MFA for the resolution due to
many questions about the modalities -- the wording, the
impact on other resolutions, the timing, and the venue
(perhaps the Human Rights Council would be better).
5. (C) PRESIDENT'S SPEECH AND INITIATIVES ON CUBA:
Groenemeijer stated that the President appeared to be
announcing a 'stronger' Cuba policy, noting that the Cubans
responded to the statement as a threat.
Gallagher