NETHERLANDS/ESDP: DUTCH SUPPORT DEPLOYMENT TO CHAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000042 SIPDIS ZDS - C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ZDS - BANGUI REMOVED AS ADDRESSEE; ALL OTHER ROUTES PROTECTED SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV NL CD SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ESDP: DUTCH SUPPORT DEPLOYMENT TO CHAD AND C.A.R. REF: SECSTATE 3208 Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.5(b) an d (d) ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points to Huub Buise, Head of the Dutch MFA's Sudan Task Force and Horn of Africa section, and Jaime de Bourbon Parme, policy officer for Peacekeeping Operations and the lead officer for the Chad/Central African Republic deployment (EUFOR TCHAD/CAR). In a discussion on January 14, de Bourbon indicated that the Dutch will provide two platoons, or 60-80 troops, in support of the deployment. De Bourbon said the Dutch "are very positive" about the mission, and see it as supporting their efforts in Sudan and Darfur. ¶2. (C) Earlier press reports that the Netherlands might provide a hospital were mistaken. The Dutch have promised to provide a hospital unit in Darfur. The Italians will provide a hospital unit in Chad. ¶3. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. Arnall