NETHERLANDS: DUTCH OPPOSE DRAFT NSG EXCEPTION FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000686 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC AORC NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: DUTCH OPPOSE DRAFT NSG EXCEPTION FOR INDIA REF: A. MCCLELLAN-FALLS EMAIL 8-13-08 ¶B. SECSTATE 85948 ¶C. THE HAGUE 672 Classified By: A/DCM James Foster for reasons 1.5(b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch oppose the draft Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) exception for India because it does not include Hyde Act provisions. Further political-level U.S.-Dutch contacts may be needed, but the Dutch are not ready. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On August 12, poloff delivered ref B points to Henk Swarttouw, Deputy Director for the Security Affairs Directorate, and Ceta Noland, Senior Advisor for Nonproliferation and Nuclear Affairs. On August 13, A/DCM raised ref A points in a phone call with Swarttouw. Swarttouw said the Dutch were disappointed the draft NSG proposal did not include even one condition from the Hyde Act. The U.S. representative to the NSG, Mr. Stratford, had indicated that the NSG exception would include provisions of the Hyde Act, and that the NSG measure would also provide for suspension of the agreement if India tests a nuclear weapon. The Dutch want to maintain the integrity of the NPT and cannot condone or support India's military nuclear program. The matter is also a political concern -- having received negative coverage in the Dutch press -- and the MFA has already received questions from parliament. The measure will require political approval, and parliament may demand an appearance by FM Verhagen to explain the GONL position. ¶3. (C) In an earlier discussion, Noland noted that if the NSG draft were to include the Hyde provisions and a measure providing for suspension in the case of a weapons test, the Dutch are willing to consider the measure and act on short notice. Moreover, the majority of NSG members would probably accept the draft as well, with the possible exception of China, but the Dutch expect Brazil, China, and South Africa to strongly oppose the draft in its current form. The Dutch understand that the agreement with India is a priority for the United States, but they feel it is unlikely Congress will approve the deal this year given House Foreign Affairs Chairman Berman's statements. The Dutch, therefore, support more time to deliberate on the current draft. ¶3. (C) NEXT STEPS: Asked about a senior-level U.S. call to the highest-level Dutch civil servant, Swarttouw said this was a political decision. At the same time, Swarttouw advised against a political-level push at this time. FM Verhagen will return to the office from vacation August 18, but he will not be ready to discuss this in a pull-aside with the Secretary at the NATO ministerial in Brussels next week, even if that was a possibility. Germany is considering another NSG meeting before the return of the U.S. Congress on September 8. The Dutch, however, welcome more information about the position of the U.S. Congress on the agreement. Culbertson