NETHERLANDS/NEW CABINET: INCOMING FOREIGN MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000297 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PTER EUN NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/NEW CABINET: INCOMING FOREIGN MINISTER SETS PRO-U.S. TONE REF: THE HAGUE 282 Classified By: COUNSELOR FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ANDREW J. SCHOFER FOR RE ASONS 1.4(B/D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Dutch Foreign Minister-designate Maxime Verhagen told Ambassador Arnall on February 15 that becoming foreign minister was the fulfillment of a "boyhood dream." He stressed that maintaining and strengthening U.S.-Dutch relations will be among his highest priorities as foreign minister. Verhagen expects that revisiting the debate on a European Constitution and maintaining support for the war on terrorism will be his biggest challenges. While expressing support for eventual Turkish accession to the EU, Verhagen acknowledged that he would probably take a tougher line on Turkey than his predecessor. He is frustrated by the lack of good options for dealing with Iran. Although not a career diplomat, Verhagen is clearly comfortable with his new role, and intends to be a strong voice in favor of trans-Atlantic ties in the new center-left Dutch Cabinet. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On February 15, Ambassador Arnall paid a congratulatory call on Maxime Verhagen, the Parliamentary Floor Leader of the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA) who was tapped on February 13 to replace Ben Bot as Foreign Minister in Prime Minister Balkenende's next cabinet (reftel). Verhagen was clearly excited about taking on his new responsibilities, and said that becoming Foreign Minister fulfilled his "boyhood dream" He was pleased to have the opportunity to talk to the U.S. Ambassador before his official swearing in ceremony -- most likely February 22 -- so that he could still speak "freely" as a politician, rather than as a diplomat. (Note: According to Verhagen's staff, he canceled a previously scheduled appointment to accommodate post's request for a meeting with Ambassador Arnall.) ¶3. (C) Verhagen noted that he has often been criticized by political opponents and the Dutch press for being "too pro-American." From his perspective, however, this is a badge of honor. Verhagen recalled that his father had taken him to the American World War II cemetery in Margraten at least once a year from the time he was six years old; his grandfather, he added, had been sent to a concentration camp in Germany. According to Verhagen, younger Dutchmen whose parents did not live through the liberation of Holland did not understand the depth of the gratitude felt by their elders. For many of the younger generation -- including some of his colleagues in the new Cabinet -- the Vietnam war had been a more significant influence in determining their attitudes toward the U.S. ¶4. (C) In response to a question from the Ambassador, Verhagen said he expected his two biggest challenges as Foreign Minister would be revisiting the debate on a European Constitution -- in whatever form that might take -- and "maintaining support for the war on terrorism." Verhagen, who supported the Dutch deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan while in Parliament, argued that the European public, and much of the political elite, still failed to grasp their own stake in the struggle against international terrorism. The NATO mission in Afghanistan, for example, must succeed -- the futures of both Afghanistan and the NATO alliance depend on it. Verhagen stressed that he would push within the Dutch government, as well as in NATO and the EU, for increased U.S.-European cooperation in fighting terrorism. ¶5. (C) With regard to the EU Constitution, Verhagen indicated that much would depend on the outcome of ongoing intra-EU discussions, as well as the upcoming elections in France. He is personally committed to the continuing integration and enlargement of the EU, he said, as long as the process proceeds logically within clearly-set parameters. Asked about Turkey, Verhagen stated that he supported eventual Turkish membership in the EU. That said, he acknowledged that he did not expect to be as "personally" engaged in facilitating Turkish-EU relations as his predecessor. (Note: FM Bot, a former Ambassador to Ankara, was widely viewed as more forward-leaning on Turkey than others in his party, including Verhagen.) Verhagen stressed that Turkey should not get any special breaks, but must meet all criteria to the letter. Ambassador asked whether Verhagen worried about being seen to apply a tougher standard on Turkey than on other prospective members; Verhagen replied that, if it had THE HAGUE 00000297 002 OF 002 been up to him, EU membership for Romania, Poland, Cyprus, and others would also have been delayed until those countries fully met all membership criteria. ¶6. (C) On Iran, Verhagen stressed that he was "very worried" about the lack of good options. He noted that he had been "surprised" by the U.S. decision to intervene militarily in Iraq because Iran had, to him, seemed the greater threat at the time -- and was now an even more difficult challenge. He expressed support for the efforts of the EU-3, IAEA, and UN Security Council to deal with Iran, but agreed with Ambassador Arnall that countries like China and Russia could and should play a more helpful role. COMMENT AND BIO NOTE: -------------- ¶7. (C) By agreeing to meet with the American ambassador even before assuming his new position, Verhagen clearly wanted to signal his intention to pursue a strong trans-Atlantic agenda as Foreign Minister. His ties to the United States are personal as well as professional -- he has traveled extensively there with his family (often in a camper) and participated in a USG-sponsored International Visitor's Leadership Program (IVLP) exchange in 1999. Verhagen's son will also shortly begin a six-month flight-training course in Arizona. Although not a career diplomat like Bot, Verhagen is a veteran of countless foreign policy debates in Parliament -- both as CDA floorleader and, earlier, as the party's foreign policy spokesman -- and is obviously comfortable with his new responsibilities. In the coming months, his diplomatic skills will be put to the test not only on the international stage, but also within the new center-left Dutch government, where many of his cabinet colleagues hold more skeptical views of U.S.-Dutch relations. Verhagen's effort to reach out to us so early in the game strongly suggests that he will be a solid and effective friend in the Balkenende IV cabinet. BLAKEMAN