Secretary Clinton's March 31, 2009 conversation

S E C R E T PARTO 041305

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/31/2019
TAGS: OVIP PREL NL AF PHUM RU NATO
SUBJECT: Secretary Clinton's March 31, 2009 conversation
with Dutch FM Verhagen

Classified by: Paul Wohlers, Deputy Executive Secretary,...




202072

2009-04-13

09PARTO41305

US Delegation, Secretary

SECRET



S E C R E T PARTO 041305

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/31/2019
TAGS: OVIP PREL NL AF PHUM RU NATO
SUBJECT: Secretary Clinton's March 31, 2009 conversation
with Dutch FM Verhagen

Classified by: Paul Wohlers, Deputy Executive Secretary,
S/ES, Department of State. Reason 1.4(b,d).


1. (U) March 31, 2009; 9:00 a.m.; The Hague,
Netherlands.


2. (U) Participants:

U.S.
The Secretary
Deputy Secretary Lew
SRAP Holbrooke
A/S Fried
Ms. Abedin, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary
Mr. Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary
Mr. Falls (Embassy Notetaker)

NETHERLANDS
FM Verhagen
Pieter de Gooijer, DG for Political Affairs
Robert de Groot, Deputy DG for Political Affairs
Peter Potman, Deputy for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Bart Rijs, Spokesperson
Marcel de Vink, Private Secretary (Chief of Staff)


3. (C) SUMMARY. In a cordial meeting, the Secretary
and Dutch FM Verhagen reviewed Afghanistan policing and
regional politics, NATO and Russia, Guantanamo and human
rights, and the Middle East. Both agreed to help
celebrate the NY 400 commemorating Henry Hudson's trip
to the New World and founding of the first Dutch colony.
END SUMMARY.

--------------
AFGHANISTAN
--------------


4. (C) The two leaders met on the margins of the March
31 International Conference on Afghanistan, held in The
Hague. The Secretary and Verhagen exchanged compliments
on the Dutch-hosted conference and the new U.S. strategy
toward Afghanistan. The Secretary noted that our
common goal is to build security for the Afghans. While
prospects for the Afghan Army are good, the situation
with the police is more challenging. The Secretary
encouraged Verhagen to approach his European colleagues
to win support for funding the Afghan police. Japan's
offer to pay six months' of police salaries was
generous, but the needs are significant. It is
difficult to properly screen the applicants for security
concerns, to provide an adequate salary, and to build
the same morale level as within the Afghan army. Europe
should be able to resolve any policy concerns over civil
vs. military policing. The United States is willing to
consider putting the police under the Afghan Army, which
functions well, if necessary. SRAP Holbrooke added that
Italy seems to be the stumbling block on the police
force.


5. (C) Verhagen responded that policing is a concern,
and indeed worrisome. The Dutch intend to double
their personnel contribution for police training and


provide $40 million for salaries. Regarding Europe's
contributions, some nations such as France find it
difficult to use military and civilian police together.
That is not a problem for the Netherlands, but it is
difficult for the Dutch MOD to use Gendarmes as
trainers. EUPOL will likely announce soon that it is
ready with 400 police trainers.


6. (C) The Secretary emphasized regional coordination -
- we don't want to impose our view -- as an essential
element to the new U.S. strategy. The biggest challenge
is working with Pakistan. China, India, and Russia are
engaged. Iran has signaled it may be willing to help on
border issues due to concerns about narcotics
trafficking.


7. (C) The Secretary thanked Verhagen again for the
conference, noting, You are the best of Allies ...
Uruzgan is a model. She added that she understood
Dutch domestic political concerns, and that she hoped
the Dutch public would continue to support a strong
deployment in Afghanistan.

--------------
NATO AND RUSSIA
--------------


8. (C) The Secretary noted that France's participation
in NATO had been resolved through close consultations
with Turkey, and that Danish PM Rasmussen might do
himself a favor and address Turkish concerns about his
candidacy for NATO Secretary General in a similar
manner. SRAP Holbrooke wondered whether NATO SYG De
Hoop Scheffer might be able to extend his tenure. The
Secretary noted that this was one possibility, if the
Turkish concerns persist.


9. (C) Verhagen was confident De Hoop Scheffer would
stay on as needed. Given the public statement by PM
Erdogan against Rasmussen, however, it may be difficult
to resolve Turkish concerns.


10. (C) The Secretary noted the President will
encourage the Russians to pull back from Georgia.
Eastern European nations want to focus on Russia and
Russia's efforts to pressure them, and they are looking
for reassurance from us ? understandably, based on their
history and recent events in Georgia. We should not let
Russia intimidate Eastern Europe, and we should support
their aspirations. For example, Ukraine is looking to
develop its energy capacity. At the same time, the
United States wants to stand up the NATO-Russia
Council. Obviously, we should work with them on non-
proliferation issues. NATO also needs to look to other
issues, such as cyber security.


11. (C) Verhagen agreed and stated that as NATO reviews
its strategic concept, it needs to go beyond Article 5
and look at regional and global threats. NATO should
not focus solely on Russia but also on these broader
issues. For the Dutch, Russia is not the threat it
was. NATO should look to cyber security, energy


security, and piracy, for example. Verhagen cautioned
that the installation of missiles in Poland could be
misinterpreted as evidence of a lack of faith by Poland
in Article 5, in favor of a bilateral security
relationship with the U.S. The Secretary responded that
President Yeltsin once had told President Clinton that
he agreed the United States wasn't a threat, but little
old ladies in St. Petersburg don't agree. In other
words, mistrust was a political problem above all.

--------------
GUANTANAMO AND HUMAN RIGHTS
--------------


12. (C) The Secretary thanked FM Verhagen for the Dutch
effort to frame a response to the legal issues
surrounding Guantanamo and asked for FM Verhagen's
further advice. She also thanked Verhagen for the Dutch
effort to draft new text for the Durban review
conference.


13. (S) Verhagen responded that, while the Netherlands
would be very hesitant to take people [detainees], ...
we want to assist. He noted that, due to the Schengen
visa regime, EU members will have to consider jointly
the implications of accepting detainees. Asked by A/S
Fried whether the EU may set the bar too high for a
general EU-U.S. understanding, Verhagen said no. I'm
difficult, but not frustrating your process.


14. (C) On a second track with Guantanamo, Verhagen
said the Netherlands is supporting university
discussions on the legal issues and has started a
discussion on having the ICC respond to terrorist
crimes. In addition, the Netherlands is willing to
assist with detainee rehabilitation programs in Yemen.

--------------
MIDDLE EAST
--------------


15. (C) The Secretary urged Verhagen to stick with the
Quartet Principles for Hamas. She understood there was
pressure to change policy, but now is not the time to
open the door...now is the time to keep the pressure
on. On Syria, she noted that it is worthwhile to have
a more inclusive approach. On Israel, the United
States will press to end settlements.


16. (C) Verhagen said he fully agreed that the
Quartet Principles should apply to the new Palestine
government. However, I am more and more isolated
within the EU...I was the only one to raise the issue
at a recent meeting. The mainstream says we provoked
Hamas. Verhagen said we need to apply the same human
rights principles to both Israel and Palestine. Israel
is getting blamed for violations, but not Palestinians.
DG De Gooijer noted that the situation within the EU was
upside down -- it appears the EU might ask the new
Israeli government to adhere to the Quartet principles.
CLINTON