Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09THEHAGUE269
2009-04-24 15:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/TERRORISM FINANCE: MAY 25 SEMINAR ON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHTC #0269/01 1141550 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 241550Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2785 INFO RUCNSTF/TERRORISM FINANCE PRE NOTIFICATION COLLECTIVE RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000269
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PTER NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/TERRORISM FINANCE: MAY 25 SEMINAR ON
REFORMING THE UN DESIGNATION PROCESS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000269
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PTER NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/TERRORISM FINANCE: MAY 25 SEMINAR ON
REFORMING THE UN DESIGNATION PROCESS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
1. (U) This message contains an action request; see paragraph
7.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
will host a multilateral seminar May 25 in The Hague titled:
"Improving the Effectiveness and Legitimacy of UN Targeted
Sanctions." The objective is to advance the initiative
championed by the Netherlands and several like-minded
countries to establish a review or advisory panel at the
United Nations to examine Security Council sanctions
committee decisions. The Dutch will invite the U.S.
government to attend the seminar and would welcome a USG
speaker. END SUMMARY.
--------------
WHY THIS SEMINAR NOW?
--------------
3. (SBU) The Netherlands, along with Denmark, Germany,
Liechtenstein, Sweden, and Switzerland, held an open meeting
at the UN on June 13, 2008, to lobby for an independent panel
to review UN sanctions designations. Although the 1267
Committee rejected the proposal at the time, the GONL has
continued to pursue the idea and has actively sought the
backing of other countries. Our MFA terrorism finance
contact told us that Belgium, Costa Rica, Norway, Finland,
Greece, and Canada have indicated some level of support for
the panel concept. By convening this seminar on May 25, the
GONL hopes to build momentum on this issue leading into the
U.S.-EU Terrorism Finance Troika later the same week in
Prague. The GONL knows the USG has opposed the establishment
of a review panel but still wants the USG to attend the
seminar.
4. (SBU) The MFA contact emphasized the GONL favors an
independent "advisory" -- not "review" -- panel and is open
to compromise on whether its recommendations would be
binding. She said the like-minded countries are debating
what the panel's purview should be, with some early
proponents (e.g. Sweden) less willing to compromise. The
Dutch have suggested "quasi-binding" language, which would
allow the Security Council to overrule panel recommendations.
The group is also still discussing the panel's composition
-- possibly 15 seats with 3-member units to review individual
cases.
--------------
EVENT DETAILS
--------------
5. (SBU) The Dutch MFA, Finance Ministry, Justice Ministry,
and NCTb (national counter-terrorism coordination office)
will take part in the seminar. It will be at the working
level and several participants are expected to continue on to
Prague for the U.S.-EU terrorism finance workshop. A
non-paper to be distributed beforehand has been drafted, but
the like-minded group has not yet reached final agreement on
it.
6. (SBU) The seminar will run from 14:00 to 18:00 on Monday,
May 25 (Memorial Day),followed by a reception. An academic
authority on sanctions will kick-off the program, to be
followed by practitioners including a 1267 Committee
representative. The organizers will accommodate a USG
speaker if desired. In addition to like-minded countries and
the United States, the GONL plans to invite the other UNSC
members, the EU, and the UN 1267 and Counter-Terrorism
Committees. The Dutch also want to convene a drafting
session Tuesday morning May 26, which will not appear on the
program, for like-minded countries to work on concrete next
steps to advance the proposal at UN.
--------------
COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------
7. (SBU) The Netherlands is a stalwart ally in combating
terrorist financing, but the GONL puts great stock in the
Qterrorist financing, but the GONL puts great stock in the
importance of a functional delisting process. We may
disagree on how to achieve this goal, but the Dutch and their
like-minded partners are not letting go of the advisory panel
initiative. USG attendance at the May 25 seminar will, at a
minimum, allow us to hear what this group has in store for
this issue -- one that will likely gather momentum after
Sweden assumes the EU presidency in July. Post welcomes
interagency participants to The Hague for this event. Post
requests clarification and guidance before May 25 as to the
current U.S. policy position on reforming the UN terrorism
designation process. END COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST.
GALLAGHER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PTER NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/TERRORISM FINANCE: MAY 25 SEMINAR ON
REFORMING THE UN DESIGNATION PROCESS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
1. (U) This message contains an action request; see paragraph
7.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
will host a multilateral seminar May 25 in The Hague titled:
"Improving the Effectiveness and Legitimacy of UN Targeted
Sanctions." The objective is to advance the initiative
championed by the Netherlands and several like-minded
countries to establish a review or advisory panel at the
United Nations to examine Security Council sanctions
committee decisions. The Dutch will invite the U.S.
government to attend the seminar and would welcome a USG
speaker. END SUMMARY.
--------------
WHY THIS SEMINAR NOW?
--------------
3. (SBU) The Netherlands, along with Denmark, Germany,
Liechtenstein, Sweden, and Switzerland, held an open meeting
at the UN on June 13, 2008, to lobby for an independent panel
to review UN sanctions designations. Although the 1267
Committee rejected the proposal at the time, the GONL has
continued to pursue the idea and has actively sought the
backing of other countries. Our MFA terrorism finance
contact told us that Belgium, Costa Rica, Norway, Finland,
Greece, and Canada have indicated some level of support for
the panel concept. By convening this seminar on May 25, the
GONL hopes to build momentum on this issue leading into the
U.S.-EU Terrorism Finance Troika later the same week in
Prague. The GONL knows the USG has opposed the establishment
of a review panel but still wants the USG to attend the
seminar.
4. (SBU) The MFA contact emphasized the GONL favors an
independent "advisory" -- not "review" -- panel and is open
to compromise on whether its recommendations would be
binding. She said the like-minded countries are debating
what the panel's purview should be, with some early
proponents (e.g. Sweden) less willing to compromise. The
Dutch have suggested "quasi-binding" language, which would
allow the Security Council to overrule panel recommendations.
The group is also still discussing the panel's composition
-- possibly 15 seats with 3-member units to review individual
cases.
--------------
EVENT DETAILS
--------------
5. (SBU) The Dutch MFA, Finance Ministry, Justice Ministry,
and NCTb (national counter-terrorism coordination office)
will take part in the seminar. It will be at the working
level and several participants are expected to continue on to
Prague for the U.S.-EU terrorism finance workshop. A
non-paper to be distributed beforehand has been drafted, but
the like-minded group has not yet reached final agreement on
it.
6. (SBU) The seminar will run from 14:00 to 18:00 on Monday,
May 25 (Memorial Day),followed by a reception. An academic
authority on sanctions will kick-off the program, to be
followed by practitioners including a 1267 Committee
representative. The organizers will accommodate a USG
speaker if desired. In addition to like-minded countries and
the United States, the GONL plans to invite the other UNSC
members, the EU, and the UN 1267 and Counter-Terrorism
Committees. The Dutch also want to convene a drafting
session Tuesday morning May 26, which will not appear on the
program, for like-minded countries to work on concrete next
steps to advance the proposal at UN.
--------------
COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------
7. (SBU) The Netherlands is a stalwart ally in combating
terrorist financing, but the GONL puts great stock in the
Qterrorist financing, but the GONL puts great stock in the
importance of a functional delisting process. We may
disagree on how to achieve this goal, but the Dutch and their
like-minded partners are not letting go of the advisory panel
initiative. USG attendance at the May 25 seminar will, at a
minimum, allow us to hear what this group has in store for
this issue -- one that will likely gather momentum after
Sweden assumes the EU presidency in July. Post welcomes
interagency participants to The Hague for this event. Post
requests clarification and guidance before May 25 as to the
current U.S. policy position on reforming the UN terrorism
designation process. END COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST.
GALLAGHER