NETHERLANDS/EU: DUTCH PREVIEW FEBRUARY 12-13 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000252

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2016
TAGS: PREL EUN NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: DUTCH PREVIEW FEBRUARY 12-13 GAERC

REF: A. STATE 13840


B. STATE 15811

C. STATE 16453

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew J. Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch expect the upcoming February 12-13
GAERC to "welcome" the Ahtisaari report, and will continue to
push for Serbian "full cooperation" with the ICTY. On the
Middle East, the GAERC will likely endorse ongoing diplomatic
efforts and will evaluate the recent Fatah-Hamas agreement.
The Dutch would like to see the EU play a more active role
promoting democratization and human rights in Iran, including
by establishing a Commission presence in Tehran. On
Afghanistan, the Dutch will provide trainers to the EU's
police training mission and will be prepared to discuss
counternarcotics strategies. The Dutch hope the EU will
increase financial support for the AU mission in Sudan and
the peace process in Somalia, but worry that the AU may be
overextended in Burundi. Finally, the Dutch will press the
EU to play a "constructive" role in the Doha Round
discussions. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Mission shared ref A points on February 7 with Jeroen
Boender (Deputy European Correspondent, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs),and ref B points February 8 with Tjerk Opmeer
(Senior Policy Advisor, Trade Policy Department, Ministry of
Economic Affairs),Dorine Wytema and Pauline Diepenbroek
(both Policy Officers in the MFA's Department of European
Integration.) On February 8, Boender, Wytema, and
Diepenbroek briefed POLCOUNS and representatives of the
non-EU diplomatic community on Dutch goals for the upcoming
February 12-13 GAERC. POLCOUNS discussed ref C points with
Boender on February 9.

Western Balkans
--------------


3. (C) According to Boender, the Netherlands would press at
the GAERC for a united EU position "welcoming" Ahtisaari's
report. While the report laid out a positive way forward, he
added, "there was still a lot of work to be done," both in
the region and to convince "some member states" in the EU
that this was the way to go. Boender He hoped strong EU
support would help pave the way for a UNSC resolution on
Kosovo "acceptable to all parties."


4. (C) Boender stressed that the Dutch would continue to
insist on Serbian "full cooperation" with the ICTY in
determining future EU-Serbian relations, but would defer to
the ICTY on the definition of "full cooperation." He noted
that Dutch FM Bot met with Carla del Ponte on February 6 to
discuss this issue; according to Boender, del Ponte indicated
that a good faith effort by the new Serbian government to
apprehend wanted war criminals -- as evidenced by putting key
people in certain positions, aggressive investigations,
sharing information with the court, etc. -- might be judged
to be sufficient, even if Mladic and Karadzic were not
actually "enjoying the hospitality of The Hague." He added
that the Dutch would prefer to see both individuals in
custody, however.

Israeli-Palestinian Issues
--------------


5. (C) Boenders did not anticipate much new to emerge from
the GAERC's discussion of the Middle East. Broadly speaking,
he expected the GAERC to endorse ongoing Quartet efforts as
well as the upcoming trilateral meeting
(U.S.-Palestinians-Israel) initiated by Secretary Rice.


6. (C) POLCOUNS separately passed ref C points on the
Hamas-Fatah National Unity Government agreement to Boender on
February 9. Boender noted that the Dutch government had not
yet completed its analysis of the agreement, but would be
prepared to discuss it at the February 12 GAERC meeting. He
added that the views of the U.S. and Israel would be
significant factors influencing the Dutch analysis.

Iran
--------------


7. (C) The GAERC discussion of Iran would be "broader" than
at previous sessions, according to Boender. While the
nuclear issue remained a central concern, he said, the

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members would continue to defer to the lead of the EU-3 in
dealing with Tehran while working to implement UNSCR 1737
effectively. The Dutch, however, believed the EU could and
should do more in other areas, such as promoting democratic
change and promoting human rights. Boender said the Dutch,
for example, would support establishing an EU Commission
presence in Tehran to support and promote contact with
"democratizing" and reform elements. He recognized, however,
that such a presence would be very difficult to establish
over the opposition of the GOI and given the reluctance of
some EU members to "rock the boat."

Afghanistan
--------------


8. (C) Boender expressed strong support for the EU's
rule-of-law and police training missions in Afghanistan. As
one of the members leading the push for such programs, he
added, the Netherlands was prepared to provide trainers to
the 150 man police training mission. He hoped the GAERC
would make the "final decision" to deploy the mission.


9. (C) According to Boender, the Dutch would also be prepared
to discuss counternarcotics strategy -- including possible EU
financial support for programs to develop alternative crops,
etc. -- within the context of the discussion on Afghanistan.
He stressed that while eradication was necessary, it would
only work within the context of a comprehensive approach that
took local sensitivities and concerns into consideration.
Boender said the Dutch have discussed the issue with
"several" EU partners, including the German Presidency. He
was cagey about whether the Dutch intended to raise the
issue, but reiterated that they would be fully prepared for a
discussion "if it comes up."

African Issues
--------------


10. (C) Boender did not expect a long discussion on African
issues, although both Sudan and Somalia would be on the
agenda. The EU was "still struggling" to find an appropriate
mechanism to fund the African Union's AMIS mission; in the
meantime, the Dutch would continue their bilateral
contribution. On Somalia, the EU was prepared to contribute
15 million Euros to the peace process, provided it was "truly
representative" and included "all important groups,"
including the "legitimate" government. Finally, Boender
noted EU concerns that the AU may be over-extending its
capabilities by taking on a mission in Burundi in addition to
Sudan and Somalia.

WTO:
---


11. (C) Diepenbroek and Wytema briefed that GAERC would
address developments in the Doha Round as well as government
procurement policy (reportedly added to the agenda at the
request of the French.) They noted that Dutch Trade Minister
Karien van Gennip would participate in discussions of these
issues on Brussels on Sunday, February 11. On the Doha
Round, Diepenbroek and Wytema applauded the "sincere efforts"
of President Bush, Chancellor Merkel, and EU Commission
President Barroso to jump-start discussions, and noted that
the next several months would be crucial in finding a
compromise. The Dutch would push the EU to play a
"constructive" role in the process, they added.

ARNALL