DUTCH RESPONSE TO CND DEMARCHE

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000200 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS ONDCP - CSISSON UNVIE FOR SWICKES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC SNAR UN NL SUBJECT: DUTCH RESPONSE TO CND DEMARCHE REF: STATE 19274 ¶1. (SBU) Global Issues Officer delivered reftel points on USG priorities for the upcoming Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) meeting separately to Ministry of Health Senior Policy Officer Marcel de Kort and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Senior Policy Officer in the Terrorism and New Threats Department, Huib Mijnarends. Both indicated that the Dutch had already received drafts of the two proposed USG resolutions. They did not provide substantive comments on the U.S. resolutions, stating that EU member states would provide coordinated comments on these in a joint statement at the CND, per a decision made at the "Horizontal Drugs Group" in Brussels on 27 February. De Kort and Mijnarends were unable to provide insight into the final comments, as EU member states are in the process of submitting their comments to the presidency. While EU member states have agreed to a joint statement in principle, they remain free to interject should they feel their position is inadequately represented. ¶2. (SBU) DeKort and Mijnarends stated that the GONL would circulate a resolution on CND procedures and another on the drug situation in western Africa, through the EU. The Dutch have received USG comments on both. They said the Dutch shared the U.S. position on the ten-year review, adding that it was unlikely that the GONL would support opening the 1998 political declaration or the Action Plans for renegotiation. They did note that parliament would debate drug policy during the week of 3 March for the first time in its one year tenure, and discussions may include the CND. ¶3. (SBU) The GON delegation to the March CND meeting will consist of three Ministry of Health officials, including de Kort; Mijnarends; and Jean Luc Luijs from the Department of Justice, International Drug Policy division. Continuing recent tradition intended to increase transparency, the delegation will be accompanied by an NGO, the Transnational Institute. The Transnational Institute will not participate in discussions or decision making. Arnall