NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: INL PDAS SCHWEICH ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000687 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR INL, EUR/UBI STATE PASS ONDCP E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO SNAR AF NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: INL PDAS SCHWEICH ON AFGHAN NARCOTICS REF: THE HAGUE 496 Classified By: Global Issues Chief Susan Garro for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Tom Schweich visited The Hague on March 29 for bilateral discussions on Afghanistan. The conversation focused on anti-narcotics programs and balancing poppy eradication with providing alternative livelihoods for farmers. Ambassador Schweich stressed the importance of demonstrating short-term successes in cutting poppy growth in order to keep long-term progress in motion. The Dutch reiterated many of the points they raised during South and Central Asia DAS John Gastright's recent visit (reftel),mainly that they were serious about tackling the drug problem in Afghanistan, and that they wanted to ensure that eradication was carried out in a balanced way. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Schweich met over lunch with a Dutch interagency delegation headed by Koen Davidse, Deputy Director of the Human Rights, Humanitarian Aid and Peacebuilding Division of the Dutch MFA. Davidse was joined by Bernhard Kelkes, the MFA's Afghanistan Desk Officer, Dewi van de Weerd, Senior Policy Officer of the Security Policy Department, and Huib Mijnarends, Senior Policy Officer of the Terrorism and New Threats Unit. Hans Hoogeveen of the Dutch Agriculture Ministry and Matthijs Veenendaal of the Dutch Defense Ministry also participated in the lunch. PDAS Schweich was joined by Staff Assistant Gainer Lamar and Emboffs. ¶3. (C) Davidse opened the meeting by noting the Dutch hope to send a clear message in Afghanistan that drug production will not be tolerated, but that assistance will be provided to develop an alternative livelihood. He noted that targeted eradication has been difficult in Uruzgan because the best information available on crop patterns is not very reliable. He also noted severe security difficulties in the province that impact eradication efforts. Davidse concluded by stating that the U.S. and Dutch are on the same page vis a vis poppy eradication, and stressed the importance of unified messages on poppy eradication from all ISAF partners. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Schweich began by thanking the Dutch for their efforts to date and acknowledged the difficulties they face in Uruzgan. The situation in Uruzgan is almost a "perfect storm" for poppy production given the confluence of weather, poverty, corruption, and security concerns, said Schweich. He added that a lack of political will to tackle opium production and security concerns have plagued reconstruction efforts in Uruzgan. Schweich also stressed the importance of allied unity in anti-drug messages. He added that the fear of eradication is a powerful incentive for farmers, noting conversations he had with farmers in Afghanistan who had switched from poppy to lettuce farming. While such farmers may earn slightly less income than they would growing poppy, according to Schweich, they are growing a much less labor-intensive crop and no longer feel guilty about growing poppy. He stressed that only four percent of Afghanistan's land and 15 percent of its people are engaged in poppy production; letting that small group continue to violate Afghan law sends the wrong message to other Afghans. The poppy economy is also starting to have spill-over effects into the legitimate economy, Schweich added, noting that this could jeopardize development of the whole country. ¶5. (C) Hans Hoogeveen of the Dutch Agriculture Ministry detailed Dutch efforts to develop alternative livelihoods for Afghan farmers, in particular dairy or horticultural farming. He noted that the Dutch had shared their experience with cooperative farming organizations, where farmers combine resources to purchase large capital items such as tractors. He also stressed the importance of building and maintaining a chain from the farms to the market (roads, warehouses, etc.). While optimistic that Afghan farmers could have a bright future growing legal crops, the conversion to other livelihoods will take time according to Hoogeveen. He estimated that the time to convert to dairy farming at roughly three years, horticulture five years, and fruits or nuts up to seven years to become profitable. The big question faced in the middle of this change-over program, however, is what farmers can do in the meantime. Without banks to administer financial aid, it is very difficult to support farmers in the short term. ¶6. (C) Van de Weerd raised the possibility of broader cooperation between Development Ministers of ISAF. She indicated that Dutch Development Minister Koenders hoped to spur increased dialogue and cooperation between Development Ministers, citing the PRT concept as a possible model to emulate for improved development cooperation. She noted that Koenders plans on visiting Washington, DC in April and stated that his visit would be a good opportunity to discuss further ways for development agencies to cooperate. ¶7. (U) Ambassador Schweich cleared this cable. ARNALL