NETHERLANDS: TOTAL BAN ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS NOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000934 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/WRA, EUR/PRA, EUR/UBI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2017 TAGS: MOPS NATO PARM PREL NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: TOTAL BAN ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS NOT DESIRABLE REF: STATE 66596 Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The GONL does not support a total ban on cluster munitions (CM). However, the Dutch will attend the next CM meeting in Lima on May 24-25 with the goal of working to revise the draft text proposed by Norway that calls for a total CM ban. The Dutch agree the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) is the most appropriate forum to discuss CM, and believe there is momentum within the EU to return CM discussion to the CCW. MFA Deputy Head for Arms Control and Export Policy Vincent van Zeijst discussed reftel with polmiloff on May 16. End summary. ¶2. (C) Van Zeijst -- a member of the Dutch delegation to the CM conference in Lima -- confirmed that the Dutch do not support a total CM ban. The Dutch military uses CM, and maintaining NATO standards and interoperability are in Dutch interests, van Zeijst said. He agreed that the discussion draft text proposed by Norway is problematic, especially Article II as it amounts to a proposed complete ban on CM. ¶3. (C) However, van Zeijst argued that only six of the 46 countries currently supporting the Oslo Process favor a total ban, and three of those six do not even possess CM. Of the 46, van Zeijst said 14 countries -- including the Netherlands -- strongly oppose a complete ban, but are willing to work in Lima on language supportive of a partial ban. The question, van Zeijst said, is what such a partial ban would entail. He added that the USG "should not worry," as it was clear a number of countries agree that a total CM ban is not desirable. ¶4. (C) Van Zeijst also agreed that the CCW is the appropriate forum to discuss CM. He noted that EU Foreign Ministers had discussed at the recent GAERC a proposal to introduce a negotiating mandate on CM in the CCW, and suggested this indicated "considerable momentum" within the EU to support discussion of a negotiating mandate at the upcoming CCW Group of Government experts meeting in June. That said, he noted that the Oslo Process supports parallel discussions on CM in the CCW, and the Netherlands will participate in both. ARNALL