Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08THEHAGUE380
2008-05-05 07:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: FM PLEASED WITH SAA AGREEMENT

Tags:  PREL EU SE NL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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