NETHERLANDS/HCOC: CONCERNS OVER PRE-LAUNCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000068

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/MTR, EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PREL MTCRE MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/HCOC: CONCERNS OVER PRE-LAUNCH
NOTIFICATION COMPLIANCE

REF: STATE 4161

Classified By: CDA Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: The GONL has nearly completed its Annual
Declaration (AD) under the Hague Conduct of Conduct Against
Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC),and plans to submit
the declaration prior to the March 31, 2008 deadline. The
Dutch remain concerned, however, over USG noncompliance with
the HCOC's commitment to submit pre-launch notifications
(PLNs) on ballistic missile and space vehicle launches and
test flights. According to MFA Senior Advisor for Nuclear
Affairs and Nonproliferation Ceta Noland, the EU Presidency
will demarche Washington and Moscow on HCOC PLNs "in the near
future." Given the linkage between PLNs and our bilateral
relationship with Russia, the GONL would appreciate any
update from Washington on where on-going discussions on a
proposed joint data exchange center currently stand. Noland
discussed these issues with polmiloff on January 23. End
summary.


2. (C) Noland said that she had "already finished" the Dutch
AD for the HCOC, and had circulated it for review in the
Dutch interagency. She expected the declaration to be
approved following some fact-checking regarding the number of
space vehicle launches by a Dutch civilian company based in
Amsterdam -- at any rate, the AD will be submitted prior to
the March 31, 2008 deadline, she said. She noted that the
Dutch also have been reaching out to HCOC subscribing states
through "inreach" demarches, reminding them of the deadline
and the simplified "nil form."


3. (C) On a related matter, Noland raised the HCOC's
commitment regarding the submission of PLNs for ballistic and
space vehicle launches and USG noncompliance. She noted that
until recently, the Russians had "half-heartedly" complied by
submitting some PLNs for commercial space launches, but had
ceased all PLNs as of January 2008 in response to USG
noncompliance. Noland said the EU Presidency will demarche
both Washington and Moscow on this issue "in the near future."


4. (C) Noland appreciated reftel points on the AD submission;
they verified the Dutch belief that the USG takes the HCOC
seriously. However, the United States and Russia are the
HCOC's most important members, and continued Moscow and
Washington noncompliance with PLN submissions could
jeopardize the HCOC. She further argued that the USG often
provides PLNs to the International Maritime Organization
(IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) for safety purposes -- if such pre-launch information
is public, then why not comply with the HCOC as well?


5. (C) Noland acknowledged that PLNs have become more of a
bilateral issue between the USG and Moscow, especially given
on-going discussions regarding a joint data exchange center.
According to Noland, the Russian embassy in The Hague is
reporting that Moscow and Washington are "so far apart"
following the latest U.S. proposal regarding the data
exchange center, that the Russians are skeptical that any
resolution is possible. At the same time, Noland had heard
from British counterparts a more positive read-out regarding
the status of the data exchange discussions -- the GONL would
appreciate Washington's view on where such discussions
currently stand, she said.
Schofer