(U) Deputy Secretary Steinberg's March 19, 2009

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 032078 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2029 TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV NATO AF UN NL SUBJECT: (U) Deputy Secretary Steinberg's March 19, 2009 Meeting with Dutch Ambassador Renee Jones-Bos ¶1. (U) Classified by EUR Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶2. (U) March 19, 2009, 10:30 - 11:00, Washington, D.C. ¶3. (U) Participants: U.S. Deputy Secretary James Steinberg EUR/WE Director Pamela Spratlen Special Assistant Amy Scanlon Timothy L Smith (EUR/WE Notetaker) The Netherlands Ambassador Renee Jones-Bos Political Counselor Nathalie Jaarsma ¶4. (C) SUMMARY. Deputy Secretary Steinberg met with Dutch Ambassador Renee Jones-Bos on March 19, 2009 at the Department of State. Ambassador Jones-Bos and Deputy Secretary Steinberg discussed the need to reinforce the involvement of the international community in Afghanistan and strengthen the civilian component of the mission. The Ambassador requested immediate U.S. support for a new Dutch draft statement for the Durban Review Conference and also delivered another plea for the U.S. to back the Dutch candidate for the position of UNDP Administrator. END SUMMARY. ¶5. (C) AFGHANISTAN: Deputy Secretary Steinberg thanked the Ambassador for Dutch agreement to host an inclusive Conference on Afghanistan on March 31. The Deputy Secretary also presented U.S. goals for the Conference: to reinforce the role of the UN and the involvement of regional players and the international community; to strengthen the civilian component of the mission; and to specify priorities in the lead-up to a pledging conference. Ambassador Jones-Bos responded favorably to these goals, commented that civilian-military cooperation is essential, and noted the Dutch model in Uruzgan Province has been successful. She also said that the role of Afghan authorities should be promoted at the Conference. ¶6. (C) DURBAN REVIEW: The Ambassador passed to the Deputy Secretary a copy of a Dutch revision of the draft statement, which has also been submitted to EU partners and other like-minded countries. The Deputy Secretary agreed that State would review the draft. The Dutch would like U.S. and EU support to present this version as a basis for ongoing negotiations. Ambassador Jones- Bos also noted that Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen is strongly opposed to any singling-out of Israel. ¶7. (C) UNDP: The Deputy Secretary took note of Ambassador Jones-Bos' request that the U.S. support Dutch UNDP Deputy Administrator Adrianus "Ad" Melkert for the position of UNDP Administrator, which is currently under consideration by UN SYG Ban Ki-Moon. She commented that it would be difficult for the Netherlands to remain the second largest donor to UNDP if no Dutch person is afforded a senior position in administration. Y CLINTON