NETHERLANDS/EU: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000094 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2016 TAGS: PREL EAID ENRG EUN KPAL MARR PGOV BK IR IS SO, SR, SU, YI, NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE REF: A. STATE 5256 ¶B. STATE 5640 ¶C. THE HAGUE 0071 Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew J. Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b an d d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The GONL supports the European Neighborhood Policy but does not want to see it used as a back door to EU candidacy. The Dutch continue to push for Serbian ICTY cooperation and will view warily offers to compensate Serbia for any change in Kosovo's status. Secretary Rice's efforts on the MEPP have been well-recieved, and the GONL wishes to clarify that FM Bot's criticism of President Bush's Iraq plan was exaggerated by the press. The GONL is working with EU member states on implementation of UNSCR 1737 but expects less sweeping restrictions than the U.S. advocates. Bot will attend the Paris donor's conference and hopes to signal strong support for the Siniora government. Unfortunately, Dutch SSR assistance to Lebanon will decline from last year's level. The GONL will push other member states to do their share to support AMIS. The Dutch have not finalized their stance on Somalia assistance but expect the EU will play a role in humanitarian operations and peacekeeping financing. End summary. ¶2. (U) Cees Bansema, MFA's EU Internal Policies Division Head, and Jeroen Boender, Deputy European Correspondent, MFA Department of Political Affairs, briefed foreign diplomats on January 17. Poloff delivered ref A and B demarches prior to the meeting. General Affairs: Lisbon Agenda, Energy and the Constitution -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) The Dutch, according to Bansema, expect the European Commission to kick off the General Affairs discussion with a progress report on member states' implementation of the Lisbon agenda. The Dutch have received a score of "good progress," with a recommendation that they develop a labor market policy addressing vulnerable groups such as young school drop-outs and immigrants. "Good progress" is the middle of three scores, the other two being "very good progress" and "progress." ¶4. (C) External energy policy is also expected to be on the agenda, said Bansema, with the EC presenting a strategic energy review focusing largely on environmental issues and energy councils. The Commission will, however, also address two external policy concerns. First is a perception that the EU has ignored the energy component of its Africa policy. The Commission will recommend establishing a deeper energy partnership with Africa. Second, the Commission will discuss the establishment of an arrangement - and the role the EU would play in that arrangement - between OECD countries and large non-OECD countries like Brazil, China and India. The arrangement would focus to a large extent on enhancing energy efficiency in the non-OECD countries. ¶5. (C) The GONL, according to Bansema, also expects some discussion of the constitutional treaty, by the Germans. However, they do not expect any immediate bridging of the differences that exist. European Neighborhood -------------- ¶6. (C) The Dutch are "interested," according to Boender, in seeing the creation of free trade and other agreements with neighboring countries. However, FM Bot will make clear that the European Neighborhood Policy is not, in Dutch eyes, an automatic step toward EU membership. The two issues should remain separate. The GONL expects little discussion on this issue. Balkans -------------- ¶7. (C) On the western Balkans, the Dutch will emphasize that Serbia must continue to hear a tough message on ICTY cooperation. The GONL, Boender made clear, understands that the policies adopted at Riga will continue. The Dutch maintain, though, that members inclined to offer Serbia compensation for any eventual change of status in Kosovo must balance that against the need to secure ICTY cooperation. Comment: Essentially, the Dutch are fighting what they see as a rear guard action. They will continue to press others, even as they see the ground has shifted. End comment. Meanwhile, said Boender, ESDP preparations for THE HAGUE 00000094 002 OF 002 Kosovo are complete. Middle East, and President Bush's Iraq Plan -------------- ¶8. (C) FM Bot is likely to make a plea for an enhanced, and continued, Quartet role in the MEPP. Boender said that the GONL had viewed positively Secretary Rice's recent efforts. ¶9. (C) Bot will almost certainly attend next week's donor conference in Paris, which he sees as an important opportunity to express support for the Siniora government. The GONL expects to offer a significantly lower SSR support level to Lebanon this year, compared to last. The new total is expected to be around 1.5 (one and a half) million Euros. ¶10. (C) On Iran, Boender said that EU member states are working hard to implement UNSCR 1737. He expects conclusions now being discussed in Brussels to go further than the UNSC required but implied that it would not go as far as the U.S. would like. ¶11. (C) Iraq is not on the agenda, according to Boender. He took the opportunity, however, to tell assembled diplomats (New Zealand, Switzerland, Croatia, Japan, and U.S.) that the press had misrepresented Bot's recent statements on President Bush's Iraq plan. Bot, according to Boender, was generally favorable in his remarks and said specifically that he could understand the need for more troops and for bringing pressure to bear on Maliki. According to Boender, Bot's only critical remark was that he wished the plan had included the Baker-Hamilton recommendation of enhanced dialogue with Iran and Syria. Comment: Senior MFA officials have also privately expressed frustration with Bot's critical remarks. End comment. Sudan and Somalia -------------- ¶12. (C) On Sudan, the GONL feels it is important to keep pressure on Bashir, even as the GOS puts out positive signs on a UN force. Boender noted that AMIS financing is low and that the Netherlands (which has provided over $400 million in 3 years to Sudan efforts) is not keen to foot the bill for bridge financing. The GONL will push other EU member states to pony up. ¶13. (C) Somalia, according to Boender, demands an "inclusive" peace process. He expected an EU humanitarian role and EU financing of an AU peacekeeping force. He did not comment on any possible role Islamic elements previously linked to the Islamic Courts might play in a peace process, but GONL officials who deal with Somalia have made clear they have scant information to inform their judgment. Libya HIV/AIDS Court Case -------------- ¶14. (C) The Bulgarians have asked that Libya be placed on the agenda, to discuss the Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor whose death sentences were recently upheld. The family of the Palestinian doctor lives in the Netherlands, and the GONL remains, according to Boender, very interested in the outcome. North Korea: Not on the Agenda but Still Important -------------- -------------- ¶15. (C) The Japanese embassy representative asked whether North Korea would be on the agenda. Boender said that it would not but that the EU was finalizing internal rules for implementation of UNSC sanctions/restrictions. ARNALL