NETHERLANDS/GEORGIA: EU DEMARCHE TO NICARAGUA

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000748

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS EAID NL GG
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/GEORGIA: EU DEMARCHE TO NICARAGUA

REF: A. SECSTATE 96677

B. THE HAGUE 728

C. THE HAGUE 684

Classified By: Political Deputy Eric Falls


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch expect the EU demarche to Latin
American governments to express opposition to recognizing
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the Dutch are considering
withholding aid to Nicaragua based on that country's Georgia
policy and restrictions on domestic political parties.


2. (C) Dutch MFA Deputy Head of Central American Affairs,
Laetitia van Asch-Pieters, told poloff on September 11 that
she expected no opposition to a proposal by Denmark for the
EU to protest Nicaragua's recognition of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia, with Latvia supporting a demarche to all Latin
America. She said that Development Minister Koenders was
"not happy" with Nicaragua's decision, and MFA Political
Director De Gooijer is also upset.


3. (C) Development Minister Koenders is withholding approval
of 12.5 million euros in 2008 budget support to the GON. He
has not made a final decision because he does not want the
Netherlands "to be the only one" holding back aid. According
to Van Asch-Pieters, the EU Commission and Finland (which
provide about 10 million euros in budget support) are also
considering their aid policy but have not made a decision.
The Netherlands provides a total of 25 million euros in aid
to Nicaragua, and the Nicaraguans always raise the funding
issue in meetings with the Dutch. In a meeting with FM
Santos on August 31, Koenders expressed concern about the
exclusion of two political parties from local elections in
Nicaragua this year. (Note: FM Santos added that relations
with the United States were better than with the EU, due to
an agreement with the Americans not to engage in "megaphone"
diplomacy, but rather address issues behind closed doors.
End Note.)
Culbertson