Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE748
2007-04-23 05:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

NETHERLANDS/EU: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE

Tags:  EUN ETRD KPAL PREL XG IS IR AF NL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #0748/01 1130548
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 230548Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8931
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0473
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000748 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: EUN ETRD KPAL PREL XG IS IR AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 51262

Classified By: CDA Chat Blakeman; reasons 1.4 (b and d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000748

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: EUN ETRD KPAL PREL XG IS IR AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 51262

Classified By: CDA Chat Blakeman; reasons 1.4 (b and d).


1. (C) Summary: The GONL remains concerned about linkages in
UNSCR 1747 between goods and financing but will work with the
FATF to reach practical solutions. They are eager to sign
Open Skies Plus, are concerned that proposals for the U.S.-EU
summit might be insufficiently ambitious or concrete, and
hope to insert human rights language on the fight against
terror into a summit statement. The GONL is exploring
sanctions, should they be needed, to further pressure Sudan.
The Dutch oppose SADC calls to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe,
and they believe consensus exists within the EU on this. The
Dutch do not expect much discussion on other issues. End
summary.


2. (SBU) MFA Deputy Director for European Integration Marisa
Gerards told poloff April 19 the MFA expected two issues to
dominate the GAERC's economic agenda: a free trade agreement
with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the U.S.-EU trade
agenda (specifically the upcoming U.S.-EU summit). On the
GCC trade agreement, she said, the Netherlands is ready to
agree to GCC demands that a political dialogue, including
human rights, follow rather than precede a trade agreement.

Transatlantic Relations/U.S.-EU Summit
--------------


3. (SBU) Gerards said the Netherlands is pushing for a
political statement at the U.S.-EU Summit. The statement
would cover a range of human rights issues and would call for
a "strengthening of human rights in the fight against
terrorism." She noted that the Netherlands did not wish to
discuss missile defense in an EU context but felt, rather,
that NATO is the appropriate forum.


4. (C) Tjerk Opmeer, Senior Trade Policy Advisor at the
Economic Ministry, told EconCouns the GONL strongly supports
German Chancellor Merkel's proposal for a new transatlantic
partnership. However, the GONL remains concerned that little
time remains before the summit and that proposals on
regulatory reform and on further transatlantic economic

integration may not be sufficiently ambitious and concrete.
On WTO Doha negotiations, the Dutch recognize the benefits of
bilateral Free Trade Agreements but continue to favor a
multilateral approach and will push within the EU for
completion of a Doha agreement.

Iran - Implementing UNSCR resolutions
--------------


5. (C) Eric Ligthart, Deputy Director, Financial Integrity
Unit, Ministry of Finance, told econoff the Dutch have fully
implemented UNSCR 1737. The Netherlands expects the EU
Council will soon approve UNSCR 1747. Ligthart added,
though, that the GONL is concerned about the linakge in 1747
between the banning of export goods and the financing of
those goods. While banning actual goods is fairly
straightforward, the linkage between specific goods and
financial services is not always clear. This is especially
true when a financial institution may be but one intermediary
in a long chain of payments. UNSCR 1747 also uses broad
language, such as "directly and indirectly," said Ligthart,
that makes it hard for banks to identify how they will be
held accountable for approving dual use goods or a chain
payment. As a result, the UNSCR is requiring financial
institutions to do what they are "unable to do," he said. He
added that the GONL is likely to raise these issues in the
Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The GONL intends to work
with the FATF to determine how UNSCR 1747 can be implemented
and to prevent WMD financing. The Dutch will stress
practical, workable measures for the financial sector during
these discussions, he said.

Open Skies Plus
--------------


6. (C) Econoff met April 13 with Rene Fennes, Head of Civil
Aviation at the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Water.
Fennes said that the Dutch would do everything possible to
ensure that the agreement was signed by the Dutch
Representative at the upcoming meetings in Brussels. Fennes
reiterated that the GONL has been a strong proponent of the
Open Skies Plus agreement from the beginning, noting that
they were prepared to sign previous drafts from 2005 and

2006. The overall Dutch desire for an updated transatlantic
air agreement stems from the obvious benefits to Amsterdam
Schiphol Airport and Air-France/KLM.

Sudan - must keep up pressure on GOS
--------------

7. (SBU) MFA Deputy European Correspondent Jeroen Boender
told poloff April 18 that the Dutch government was cautiously
optimistic on Sudanese agreement to the heavy support
package. The GONL is concerned, though, that a financing gap
will open again within a few months. The Netherlands
supports the U.S. and UK approach of keeping pressure on the
Sudanese government, and it is exploring the possiblity of
sanctions.

Zimbabwe - no lifting of sanctions
--------------


8. (SBU) Boender said the GONL would give the Southern Africa
Development Community's initiative time but would not
consider lifting sanctions until concrete progress is seen on
the ground. He added that consensus appears to exist within
the EU on this matter.

Somalia
--------------


9. (SBU) The GAERC will likely adopt a resolution calling for
a political solution, said Boender, but the EU at present
"can do little." Comment: The Dutch priority in the Horn of
Africa remains Sudan, where they are a major donor. End
comment.

Central Asia and Uzbekistan
--------------


10. (SBU) The GONL, said Boender, remains concerned about
Uzbekistan's intransigience on human rights. They do not
expect the issue to be raised at the GAERC, though this could
change in light of the expulsion of the Human Rights Watch
representative.

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


11. (SBU) The Dutch do not expect the Western Balkans to be
on the agenda. That said, Boender emphasized that Dutch
support for the Ahtisaari plan remains unchanged. Further,
the GONL will continue to press a new Serb government to
cooperate fully with the ICTY.

Middle East Peace Process
--------------


12. (SBU) The Dutch welcome the contact between Olmert and
Abbas. While the Dutch position remains unchanged regarding
travel of Palestinian officials to EU countries, Boender said
it is unclear how other European countries will react to
developments.
ARNALL