NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: RESPONSE ON AUSTRALIAN

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000488

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR P, SCA, EUR/RPM, EUR/UBI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2017
TAGS: NATO PINS PREL MARR MOPS AF AS NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: RESPONSE ON AUSTRALIAN
SPECIAL FORCES DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 34078

Classified By: Ambassador Roland Arnall, reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (S) Summary: MFA Deputy Director for Political Affairs Wim
Geerts described on-going discussions with the Australian
Government on sending additional Australian special forces to
Uruzgan province as "no controversy." He expected the Dutch
and Australians to resolve the issue of placing the new
special forces under ISAF or OEF during Australian Chief of
Defense Forces Angus Houston's visit to The Hague on March
21-22. Geerts discussed reftel points with Ambassador Arnall
on March 19. End summary.


2. (S) Geerts said reftel points were "quite clear," and
emphasized that the Dutch and Australians were in "no fight"
on this issue. To the contrary, Geerts said the Dutch
greatly appreciate the additional contribution from the
Australians, and he is confident that The Hague and Canberra
can find a way forward from which to work together on the
ground in incorporating these new special forces.


3. (S) That said, Geerts noted that the Dutch prefer the
Australian special forces be placed under the ISAF chain of
command. He argued that ISAF is responsible for Uruzgan
province. Both the Dutch and Gov. Monib believe placing the
special forces under ISAF is optimal in order to preserve
unity of command. Geerts described Dutch efforts in Uruzgan
as "civilian as possible, as military as necessary," and
suggested ISAF rules of engagement were sufficiently robust
for Australian special forces. He added that Dutch Foreign
Minister Verhagen called Australian Foreign Minister Downer
on March 16, and suggested the two sides will be able to work
out their differences during the upcoming visit of Australian
Chief of Defense Forces Houston to The Hague.


4. (S) Geerts also pointed to the GONL's domestic management
of the issue as a determining factor. He said that managing
the public's perception of the mission in Uruzgan was
important, even if he described the on-going debate within
the Dutch Parliament regarding the feasibility of
reconstruction efforts vs. the need to undertake kinetic
operations as "not the right discussion." He said Parliament
is seized with the issue, which will play an instrumental
part in the upcoming decision on whether to maintain some
sort of a Dutch presence in Uruzgan past August 2008 -- from
that perspective, explaining an increase in OEF vs. ISAF
forces in the province will be difficult.

ARNALL