NETHERLANDS/COLOMBIA: DUTCH SUPPORT PRESSURE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000631 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2018 TAGS: PREL PTER SNAR EU NL CO SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/COLOMBIA: DUTCH SUPPORT PRESSURE ON THE FARC REF: A. SECSTATE 77205 ¶B. THE HAGUE 510 Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,d) (C) On July 24, poloff delivered reftel A to Joke Zuidwijk, Senior Policy Officer at the Dutch MFA, who noted the Dutch agree with Colombia, the EU, and the United States on the need to pressure the FARC. FM Verhagen issued a July 4 press statement calling on the FARC to release hostages and law down arms in favor of a peaceful settlement. However, encouraging action by Venezuela will be more challenging, as "access to the Venezuelan authorities is difficult" for the Netherlands (as reported reftel B). Adding to the challenge, said Zuidwijk, is that the Venezuela is "very unhappy about the Forward Operating Location" in Curacao and does not believe its purpose as stated by the United States. Gallagher