NETHERLANDS/MTCR/IRAN: PREPARATION FOR THE PLENARY

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 001958 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR T, ISN/MTR, EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017 TAGS: MTCRE PARM PREL ETTC KSCA IR NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/MTCR/IRAN: PREPARATION FOR THE PLENARY REF: A. STATE 132312 ¶B. STATE 136807 ¶C. STATE 137244 ¶D. STATE 142018 ¶E. STATE 143164 ¶F. STATE 144330 ¶G. STATE 151225 ¶H. 10-31-07 PALMIERO-GRUBB E-MAIL Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (S) Summary: The GONL will support the modified U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/cruise missile proposal at the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Plenary in Athens on November 5-9. In addition, MFA Senior Advisor for Nuclear Affairs and Nonproliferation Ceta Noland said the Dutch greatly appreciate advanced copies of USG papers prior to the plenary, especially the paper regarding visas and intangible technology transfers given increased interest by Iranian students to study in the Netherlands. Noland also appreciated the opportunity to review the USG presentation regarding Aviation Services International (ASI),and said the Dutch delegation will share its ASI presentation with the U.S. delegation next week in Athens. Noland discussed these issues with polmiloff on November 1. End summary. ¶2. (S) Per Ref A, Noland said the Dutch will support the modified U.S. UAV/cruise missile proposal at the Technical Experts meeting. She noted that in addition to our overtures, the UK had approached the Dutch and argued strongly in favor of the modified U.S. proposal -- leading the Dutch to wonder what the Brits stand to gain from the new definition. ¶3. (S) Noland greatly appreciated the opportunity to review U.S. papers prior to the plenary (refs B-G). She was especially interested in the paper regarding visas and intangible technology transfers (ref B),noting that she had heard the UK also will present on this subject. Noland said the Dutch are facing increased numbers of Iranian students interested in studying at Dutch technical universities. According to Dutch visa legislation, rejected visa applicants are entitled to appeal their cases -- more often than not, "zealous" university professors take up these students' cases on behalf of the students. Noland said that while it was very easy to reject a visa under the sanctions resolution for an Iranian student intending to study nuclear physics, it was "more of a stretch" to reject a student interested in biological/chemical studies or higher mathematics -- in these cases, Dutch judges are more inclined to overturn the visa rejection. She added that Dutch intelligence services simply lack the resources or manpower to track Iranian students and their studies once they arrive in the Netherlands. ¶4. (S) Noland also appreciated the opportunity to review the U.S. presentation on the Dutch firm Aviation Services International (ASI) (ref H),and noted the Dutch also will present on ASI at the plenary. The Dutch delegation will share its presentation with the U.S. delegation in Athens, Noland added. Given the Dutch on-going criminal investigation against ASI, Noland emphasized that any ASI presentation be "scrubbed" for public consumption. Upon reviewing the U.S. presentation, however, she agreed the U.S. effectively protected names and case details, and suggested that the Dutch presentation will be similar. She said she will vet our presentation through Dutch customs experts, but predicted the Dutch "will be fine" with it. ¶5. (S) She also noted that the Dutch embassy in Washington was reporting the impression that the Dutch were weak on export controls as a result of ASI. Noland reiterated that the Dutch are doing "everything possible" under their legislation, and have issued four MTCR "catch-alls" on ASI, practically "bankrupting the company." She said the Dutch will continue to cooperate with the USG and Germany on criminal proceedings against ASI. Gallagher