(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