NETHERLANDS/TERRORISM FINANCE: MAY 25 SEMINAR ON

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