Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE526
2007-03-23 10:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS: FOREIGN MINISTER VERHAGEN CONDEMNS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTC #0526 0821011 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231011Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8593 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2643 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0996 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0260 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000526
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017
TAGS: PREF PTER AF IT NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: FOREIGN MINISTER VERHAGEN CONDEMNS
TALIBAN PRISONER EXCHANGE
REF: STATE 36204
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000526
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017
TAGS: PREF PTER AF IT NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: FOREIGN MINISTER VERHAGEN CONDEMNS
TALIBAN PRISONER EXCHANGE
REF: STATE 36204
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (SBU) On March 21 during a press conference in Kabul,
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen condemned the release
of Taliban prisoners in exchange for Italian journalist
Daniele Mastrogiacomo. Verhagen said governments should not
accommodate hostage-takers, and added that the Dutch
government will not give in to demands in a similar situation
for fear of encouraging additional hostage situations. "When
we create a situation where you can buy the freedom of
Taliban fighters for a kidnapped journalist, then in the
short term there will no longer be any journalists," he said.
In subsequent meetings with Ambassador Arnall and A/S Fried
on March 23, Verhagen reiterated his strong views on
Afghanistan.
2. (C) MFA Task Force Uruzgan Coordinator Pieter-Jan Kleiweg
de Zwaan echoed his Minister's strong remarks to polmiloff on
March 22. Kleiweg said the Dutch government does not
subscribe to accommodating demands made by hostage-takers.
He added this recent release of Taliban fighters sets a
dangerous precedent for additional hostage-taking scenarios
of individuals working for NGOs. Kleiweg said that it was
"hard enough" to get international NGOs engaged at the local
level, and this latest prisoner exchange will further deter
international volunteers from working in southern Afghanistan.
ARNALL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017
TAGS: PREF PTER AF IT NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: FOREIGN MINISTER VERHAGEN CONDEMNS
TALIBAN PRISONER EXCHANGE
REF: STATE 36204
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (SBU) On March 21 during a press conference in Kabul,
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen condemned the release
of Taliban prisoners in exchange for Italian journalist
Daniele Mastrogiacomo. Verhagen said governments should not
accommodate hostage-takers, and added that the Dutch
government will not give in to demands in a similar situation
for fear of encouraging additional hostage situations. "When
we create a situation where you can buy the freedom of
Taliban fighters for a kidnapped journalist, then in the
short term there will no longer be any journalists," he said.
In subsequent meetings with Ambassador Arnall and A/S Fried
on March 23, Verhagen reiterated his strong views on
Afghanistan.
2. (C) MFA Task Force Uruzgan Coordinator Pieter-Jan Kleiweg
de Zwaan echoed his Minister's strong remarks to polmiloff on
March 22. Kleiweg said the Dutch government does not
subscribe to accommodating demands made by hostage-takers.
He added this recent release of Taliban fighters sets a
dangerous precedent for additional hostage-taking scenarios
of individuals working for NGOs. Kleiweg said that it was
"hard enough" to get international NGOs engaged at the local
level, and this latest prisoner exchange will further deter
international volunteers from working in southern Afghanistan.
ARNALL