NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: NO SAA WITHOUT FULL ICTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000634 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM NL EU SR SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: NO SAA WITHOUT FULL ICTY COOPERATION REF: THE HAGUE 380 Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Dutch MFA staff indicate FM Verhagen intends to hold firm on requiring from Serbia "full cooperation" with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) before moving ahead with a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). The Dutch are not happy with EU statements in support of engaging Serbia. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) In a July 24 meeting with Poloff, Dutch MFA Deputy Head of the Western Balkans Division Ard van der Vorst stated that Verhagen, with the support of his Belgian counterpart, will not support an interim agreement or SAA ratifiction until Serbia demonstrates full cooperation with ICTY. Verhagen is "very happy" with the delivery of Karadzic, and "convinced" that Dutch pressure got results. According to Van der Vorst, the FM has the "broadest" support in parliament for his approach. "This is the only position where the parliament is stronger than" the foreign ministry on an issue. In addition, "it's embarrasing for Serbia to admit that Karadzic was protected by the same authorities, the same president, the same prime minister" that have since given him up. ¶3. (C) Asked to elaborate on "full cooperation," Van der Vorst added that it means assistance with documentary evidence and witnesses, even if Serbia does not succeed in delivering the remaining indictees. Asked if Brammertz might find Serbia had fully cooperated, and how that would shape Dutch opinion, Van der Vorst responded "that will not happen." ¶4. (C) Van der Horst also noted that the MFA is "not happy" with the effusive statement by High Representative Solana, suggesting Brammertz would say there is full cooperation, or the statement by EU Enlargement Commissioner Rehn, who reportedly said he would looking at "implementing" measures to advance an EU-Serbia agreement. Gallagher