Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08THEHAGUE305
2008-04-01 16:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS: KEEPING A LOW PROFILE ON GREEK
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTC #0305 0921621 ZNY CCCAA ZZH O 011621Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1310 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 0521
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000305
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RPM, EUR/SCE, EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV MK GR NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: KEEPING A LOW PROFILE ON GREEK
OPPOSITION TO MACEDONIAN NATO INVITATION
REF: STATE 32646
Classified By: Political-Military Officer Jason Grubb, reasons 1.4 (b,d
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000305
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RPM, EUR/SCE, EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV MK GR NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: KEEPING A LOW PROFILE ON GREEK
OPPOSITION TO MACEDONIAN NATO INVITATION
REF: STATE 32646
Classified By: Political-Military Officer Jason Grubb, reasons 1.4 (b,d
)
1. (C) Summary: The GONL fully endorses reftel points
regarding the need to support UN-led negotiations to resolve
the differences over Macedonia's name, and believes such
differences should not prevent Macedonia from receiving an
invitation at the NATO Bucharest Summit. Yet according to
MFA Senior Advisor for the Western Balkans Ferdinand
Francken, FM Verhagen will "keep a low profile" on the name
issue during the summit in exchange for possible Greek
support for the Dutch position on Serbia and ICTY
conditionality. Francken discussed these issues with
polmiloff on April 1. End summary.
2. (C) Francken said the Dutch agree the differences between
Macedonia and Greece over Macedonia's name are bilateral in
nature, and should not prevent Macedonia from receiving a
NATO invitation during the summit. In his personal opinion,
Francken said the Greek position amounts to "blackmail" -- at
the very least, the name issue should not be used as an
excuse to reject Macedonia at Bucharest. He asserted that
Greece should agree to the provisional designation of the
"Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" -- as admitted to the
UN -- provided UN-led negotiations continue after the summit.
3. (C) Francken argued the Dutch had been until recently one
of the more vocal members of the EU stressing the need for
both sides to reach a compromise. That said, he acknowledged
continued Dutch isolation regarding their position on Serbia
and ICTY conditionality. Francken said FM Verhagen decided
-- following a recent phone call to his Greek counterpart --
to "keep a low profile" at Bucharest on the name issue and
allow other NATO members to "carry the water" on pressuring
Greece. Francken said the Dutch hoped such leniency might
lead to greater Greek flexibility regarding the Dutch
position on Serbia.
Gallagher
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RPM, EUR/SCE, EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV MK GR NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: KEEPING A LOW PROFILE ON GREEK
OPPOSITION TO MACEDONIAN NATO INVITATION
REF: STATE 32646
Classified By: Political-Military Officer Jason Grubb, reasons 1.4 (b,d
)
1. (C) Summary: The GONL fully endorses reftel points
regarding the need to support UN-led negotiations to resolve
the differences over Macedonia's name, and believes such
differences should not prevent Macedonia from receiving an
invitation at the NATO Bucharest Summit. Yet according to
MFA Senior Advisor for the Western Balkans Ferdinand
Francken, FM Verhagen will "keep a low profile" on the name
issue during the summit in exchange for possible Greek
support for the Dutch position on Serbia and ICTY
conditionality. Francken discussed these issues with
polmiloff on April 1. End summary.
2. (C) Francken said the Dutch agree the differences between
Macedonia and Greece over Macedonia's name are bilateral in
nature, and should not prevent Macedonia from receiving a
NATO invitation during the summit. In his personal opinion,
Francken said the Greek position amounts to "blackmail" -- at
the very least, the name issue should not be used as an
excuse to reject Macedonia at Bucharest. He asserted that
Greece should agree to the provisional designation of the
"Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" -- as admitted to the
UN -- provided UN-led negotiations continue after the summit.
3. (C) Francken argued the Dutch had been until recently one
of the more vocal members of the EU stressing the need for
both sides to reach a compromise. That said, he acknowledged
continued Dutch isolation regarding their position on Serbia
and ICTY conditionality. Francken said FM Verhagen decided
-- following a recent phone call to his Greek counterpart --
to "keep a low profile" at Bucharest on the name issue and
allow other NATO members to "carry the water" on pressuring
Greece. Francken said the Dutch hoped such leniency might
lead to greater Greek flexibility regarding the Dutch
position on Serbia.
Gallagher