NETHERLANDS/EU: SERBIA, KOSOVO VIEWS UNCHANGED

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000073 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018 TAGS: PREL EU NL KV SR SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: SERBIA, KOSOVO VIEWS UNCHANGED REF: A. SECSTATE 7279 ¶B. THE HAGUE __ ¶C. THE HAGUE 59 ¶D. THE HAGUE 42 ¶E. 2007 THE HAGUE 2044 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires, a.i., Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.5( b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On January 23, 2008, Dutch MFA Deputy EU Correspondent Rochus Pronk briefed EU diplomats and allies ahead of the January 28 GAERC. Pronk emphasized that the Netherlands' position on Serbia -- opposing a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) absent Serbian cooperation in finding war crimes suspects -- had not changed. Similarly, the Dutch continue to plan a "step by step" process to recognize Kosovo's independence and do not plan to join the first round of EU states recognizing Kosovo. (Post delivered reftel A points to key Dutch MFA contacts on January 24, 2008, and Dutch pre-GAERC views on the Middle East, Sudan, Kenya, and Pakistan were reported in reftel B.) END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On Serbia, Dutch opposition to an SAA is a "firm point" and the Dutch are "adamantly against" ideas for an interim or partial SAA, according to Pronk. The Dutch parliament could reject an SAA even if the cabinet were to agree to it. The Dutch have not heard the latest details about the EU Presidency's proposed task force to monitor Serbian cooperation on war crime prosecutions, but the Netherlands will not delegate decision-making authority to the task force. In other words, the Netherlands would consider a task force report on Serbian cooperation, but it would not be binding on the EU members. Asked whether Dutch policy was pushing Serbia away from the EU, Pronk responded that the message with the SAA is loud and clear. The message to the Serbian electorate is "known and appreciated" by pro-Europe Serbs. The Dutch will support positive statements about engaging Serbia but are not convinced the Dutch position will make a difference in the outcome of the elections. The Dutch are not convinced that the SAA will support stability, given the EU's experience with the Partnership for Peace. ¶3. (SBU) On Kosovo, the Dutch expect a coordinated declaration of independence as soon as February 6, followed shortly by a GAERC. The Dutch will decide "in due time" when to recognize Kosovo, based on Kosovo's declaration, constitution, and actions to protect minorities and follow the Ahtisaari plan. Asked if the Netherlands would join the EU if "twenty countries recognize Kosovo right away," Pronk said he doubted it. Pronk noted the ESDP mission documents are "ready for signing." The Dutch continue to push for a strong legal justification for the ESDP mission. In that regard, it would be helpful to cite both a UNSYG statement in support of the mission and an invitation from Kosovo. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: The comments above are consistent with what senior officials have been saying for the past several weeks. FM Verhagen has made several public statements that the Dutch will not sign an SAA without Serbian cooperation with the ICTY, most recently in a letter to parliament on January ¶23. European Affairs Minister Timmermans told the Dutch parliament on January 24 that full cooperation with ICTY "remains the demand of the Dutch government." PM Balkenende's national security adviser, Karel van Oosterom, told the ambassador on December 12 that Balkenende is willing to stand alone on this matter. Schofer