Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08THEHAGUE380
2008-05-05 07:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: FM PLEASED WITH SAA AGREEMENT
VZCZCXRO5038 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHTC #0380 1260718 ZNY CCCAA ZZH R 050718Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1407 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0206 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 0532 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA 0523 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 1973 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 0687
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000380
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018
TAGS: PREL EU SE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: FM PLEASED WITH SAA AGREEMENT
FOR SERBIA
REF: A. DEGLAIN-FALLS EMAIL 3/29/08
B. THE HAGUE 372
C. THE HAGUE 296
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.5(b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000380
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018
TAGS: PREL EU SE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: FM PLEASED WITH SAA AGREEMENT
FOR SERBIA
REF: A. DEGLAIN-FALLS EMAIL 3/29/08
B. THE HAGUE 372
C. THE HAGUE 296
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.5(b,d)
1. (C) On April 29, Ard van der Vorst, Dutch MFA Western
Balkans Coordinator for Political Affairs, told POLOFF that
FM Verhagen was pleased to sign the Stabilization and
Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia. The GAERC language
provides that the SAA will not be implemented until Serbia
fully cooperates with the International Criminal Tribunal for
the Former Yugoslovia (ICTY). Verhagen's spokesman Bart Rijs
reported that the Dutch were "satisfied" that a "gesture
could be made toward Serbia," while the principle of a
requirement for full cooperation "has not been undermined"
(ref A).
2. (C) Van der Vorst noted that MFA DG for Political Affairs
De Gooijer negotiated the agreement with his counterparts in
Luxembourg. Until the night of April 28, the Dutch had tried
various solutions to resolve the issue, including protocols
to the SAA, with no success. The French and British were
helpful in reaching agreement, while the Slovenians were less
helpful. Van der Vorst described the process as not "fluid."
3. (C) COMMENT: FM Verhagen's domestic challenge was to
artfully back away from a previous pledge not to sign an SAA
before Serbia cooperated with the ICTY (reftel C).
Parliament's move to give Verhagen a freer hand to negotiate
(reftel B) gave the FM the cover he needed. On a pragmatic
and principled level, Verhagen can still claim victory, as he
has made a gesture to pro-EU Serbs while keeping up pressure
to cooperate with the ICTY. Verhagen may be asking Dutch
voters to read and Serb voters to ignore the fine print of
the GAERC conclusions. END COMMENT.
Gallagher
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018
TAGS: PREL EU SE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: FM PLEASED WITH SAA AGREEMENT
FOR SERBIA
REF: A. DEGLAIN-FALLS EMAIL 3/29/08
B. THE HAGUE 372
C. THE HAGUE 296
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.5(b,d)
1. (C) On April 29, Ard van der Vorst, Dutch MFA Western
Balkans Coordinator for Political Affairs, told POLOFF that
FM Verhagen was pleased to sign the Stabilization and
Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia. The GAERC language
provides that the SAA will not be implemented until Serbia
fully cooperates with the International Criminal Tribunal for
the Former Yugoslovia (ICTY). Verhagen's spokesman Bart Rijs
reported that the Dutch were "satisfied" that a "gesture
could be made toward Serbia," while the principle of a
requirement for full cooperation "has not been undermined"
(ref A).
2. (C) Van der Vorst noted that MFA DG for Political Affairs
De Gooijer negotiated the agreement with his counterparts in
Luxembourg. Until the night of April 28, the Dutch had tried
various solutions to resolve the issue, including protocols
to the SAA, with no success. The French and British were
helpful in reaching agreement, while the Slovenians were less
helpful. Van der Vorst described the process as not "fluid."
3. (C) COMMENT: FM Verhagen's domestic challenge was to
artfully back away from a previous pledge not to sign an SAA
before Serbia cooperated with the ICTY (reftel C).
Parliament's move to give Verhagen a freer hand to negotiate
(reftel B) gave the FM the cover he needed. On a pragmatic
and principled level, Verhagen can still claim victory, as he
has made a gesture to pro-EU Serbs while keeping up pressure
to cooperate with the ICTY. Verhagen may be asking Dutch
voters to read and Serb voters to ignore the fine print of
the GAERC conclusions. END COMMENT.
Gallagher