NETHERLANDS/IRAN: CONSULAR CASE PROMPTS DUTCH TO

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001985

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2017
TAGS: NL UN IR IAEA EU PHUM KNNP
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/IRAN: CONSULAR CASE PROMPTS DUTCH TO
ENGAGE IRAN ON NUKES

REF: A. A. THE HAGUE 1714


B. B. THE HAGUE 1899 C. DUBAI 64

Classified By: Ambassador Roland Arnall for reasons 1.5(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: On November 7, Dutch MFA Director General
Pieter de Gooijer told the Ambassador that he will firmly
assert the EU Iran nuclear policy during his upcoming visit
to Iran while he urges consular access in the Al Mansouri
case. END SUMMARY.

NUCLEAR FILE
--------------


2. (C) As part of his November 14-16 visit to Tehran, De
Gooijer will spell out Dutch support for the EU position
during his meeting with Iran,s former chief nuclear
negotiator, Ali Larijani. According to De Gooijer, Iran has
a "long distance to cover" to regain the confidence of the
international community. In public statements on his
meetings in Iran, De Gooijer will be careful not to be
"used;" he will make clear that the Dutch give full support
for the "3 3" efforts (i.e. P5 1). Only with a positive
report from the EU,s Solana and the IAEA,s El Baradei would
the Netherlands step back from a new UNSC sanctions
resolution. And if a UNSC resolution is not possible, the
Dutch will support EU sanctions in line with the U.S.
approach.


3. (C) De Gooijer noted that Iran chief nuclear negotiator,
Saeed Jalili, will visit the Netherlands on November 16, when
he will see FM Verhagen. Jalili is also demanding a meeting
with PM Balkenende, but De Gooijer says he will not agree to
that meeting until he is satisfied with his access and
meetings in Tehran.

AL MANSOURI CASE
--------------


4. (S) FM Verhagen is sending De Gooijer to Iran specifically
on the case of Mr. Abdullah Al Mansouri, a Dutch citizen
detained in Iran on terrorism charges. (Note: Last week, the
rumored death sentence for Mansouri received extensive
attention in the Dutch media and prompted inquiries to the
MFA from parliament. FM Verhagen publicly called in the
Iranian ambassador, who assured him that Al Mansouri had not
been convicted or sentenced to death. Al Mansouri had
received a Dutch royal decoration in 2001 for his work on
behalf of Arab Iranians. End Note.) De Gooijer doubts that
he personally will have access to Al Mansouri. The Iranian
Deputy FM told De Gooijer that because Al Mansouri is held by
the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, only a
representative from the Dutch intelligence service will be
allowed to visit with him. Accordingly, De Gooijer has made
arrangements for an official from the Dutch General and
Intelligence Service (AIVD) to conduct the visit with Al
Mansouri. De Gooijer has recommended that FM Verhagen
approve this approach.


5. (C) De Gooijer noted that it was "positive" that later
Dutch press and parliament discussions revealed Al
Mansouri,s purported links to terrorism, and that his past
is "less than clean." De Gooijer said the Dutch are &more
comfortable8 now treating this as a consular access case,
whereas last week it was a &political case.8 The Dutch
MFA wants to ensure they have consular access, that any trial
is fair and transparent, and that any conviction comes
without a death sentence. De Gooijer noted, however, that Al
Mansouri,s son puts the plight of Arab Iranians ahead of his
father,s liberty. Although Al Mansouri has called and
visited his family, the son falsely stated that Al Mansouri
was too sick to call.

COMMENT:
--------------


6. (S) Dutch MFA officials reported last week that De Gooijer
originally planned to go to Iran quietly to discuss
Afghanistan-related issues. The publicity surrounding the
Al-Mansouri case, however, has clearly changed the purpose
and nature of the visit, which will now focus -- at least
publicly -- on a controversial consular case with serious
human rights implications. The Dutch media and parliament
are nearly unanimous in their support for taking a tough
approach to Iranian human rights violations, and the Dutch
also support a tough line on the nuclear issue -- FM Verhagen
has publicly supported FM Kouchner's efforts to get the EU to
take a tougher stance, for example (reftels A and B.)
Nevertheless, the Dutch are also looking for ways to

THE HAGUE 00001985 002 OF 002


cooperate quietly -- including on Afghanistan -- where they
feel they share common interests with Tehran. The fact that
de Gooijer feels the Iranian government would be more
comfortable allowing AIVD access to al Mansouri than an MFA
representative is a telling detail. Such contacts bear
continuing, close attention. END COMMENT.
Arnall