NETHERLANDS: SUPPORTS "LIKE-MINDED" STATES IN OSLO

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000144 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/WRA, EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2018 TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO UN NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: SUPPORTS "LIKE-MINDED" STATES IN OSLO PROCESS REF: STATE 13614 Classified By: CDA Michael F. Gallagher, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (S) The GONL appreciated reftel points in preparation for the February 18-22 Oslo Process meeting in Wellington. MFA Head of Arms Control and Arms Export Policy Matthijs Wolters told polmiloff February 15 that the Dutch subscribe to the group of 17 "like-minded" countries participating in the Oslo Process who possess and/or have used cluster munitions, and continue to see their military utility. At the same time, Wolters explained, these "like-minded" countries wish to balance the use of cluster munitions and maintaining military interoperability with the effort to minimize the humanitarian impact created by explosive remnants of war (ERW). These like-minded countries view the Oslo Process as a parallel track to efforts in the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW). ¶2. (S) Wolters said the GONL was aware of complications related to Articles 1(b) and (c) and 9 of the Oslo Process, and therefore will work with other like-minded countries to change such text so that it allows for exemptions to the Convention in the context of joint multilateral operations. He argued that this was a "question of definition," and suggested that the core supporters of the Oslo Process -- namely Norway, Ireland, and Austria -- had gone beyond the intent of those that had initially met in Oslo to discuss cluster munitions. Wolters said a distinction must be made between cluster munitions that should and should not be permissible based on a defined criteria focusing on reliability and precision, while taking into consideration possible future technological developments. ¶3. (S) Wolters argued that the core group needs the participation of the group of like-minded countries in order to give any result in the Oslo Process some viability and legitimacy -- otherwise, participating countries in the Process will be those that do not possess cluster munitions, have never used them, and do not see the value of their use. He said the Dutch have tried to make this argument "crystal clear" to the Norwegians, but was afraid this argument had "simply not sunk in." In the end, he suggested the core group would budge and agree to allow exemptions as advocated by the like-minded countries -- and suggested a convention could be in place when the participating countries meet this summer in Dublin. That said, Wolters expected little progress in Wellington next week. ¶4. (S) Wolters did not disagree with reftel points, noting that NGOs often intentionally misinterpret data on fatalities related to cluster munitions. He said the GONL certainly does not view cluster munitions as being on par with fatalities linked to anti-personnel landmines. That said, he noted that domestic politicians -- including Dutch parliamentarians -- are easily swayed by such misinformation. Gallagher