NETHERLANDS/GUANTANAMO: UNLIKELY TO ACCEPT

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000920 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PTER PHUM KAWK KISL KPAO NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/GUANTANAMO: UNLIKELY TO ACCEPT DETAINEE WITHOUT OVERALL SOLUTION REF: A. SECSTATE 106853 ¶B. 07 THE HAGUE 592 ¶C. 05 THE HAGUE 2444 Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch are not likely to accept a Guantanamo detainee without an overall solution to close the prison, but they are considering ways to assist the United States when that time comes. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Asked about accepting reftel A detainee, Peter Potman, MFA Deputy Director for North America, told poloff on October 31 that the Dutch foreign ministry had not moved beyond its previous policy, explained by former human rights ambassador De Klerk, of refusing to accept any detainees unless there is a final plan for closing Guantanamo. Potman noted it was hard to explain why the Dutch should accept the detainee if the United States would not. ¶3. (C) At the same time, MFA Deputy Political Director Robert De Groot told the DCM October 28 that "we are already thinking" about Guantanamo's closure, and considering possibly providing some relocation assistance. De Groot admitted the Europeans will need to decide how they can help. Potman noted the Dutch are aware of the commitment by both presidential candidates to close the prison. Potman also said that the Dutch are starting to work "on an initiative" to respond to the new president's possible new detention policy. In Potman's view, the new U.S. president "would be wise" to move "boldly and quickly" to regain the moral high ground. Such an effort would make it easier for Europe to respond positively. Potman promised to circulate reftel A information internally as the Dutch look at next steps. CULBERTSON