Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09THEHAGUE35
2009-01-15 15:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/SYRIA: EU UNLIKELY TO ACT QUICKLY ON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHTC #0035 0151548 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 151548Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2422 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0340 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0171 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4519
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000035
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2019
TAGS: PREL EU SY NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SYRIA: EU UNLIKELY TO ACT QUICKLY ON
SYRIA AGREEMENT
REF: A. SECSTATE 1985
B. 08 THE HAGUE 927
Classified By: Political & Economic Affairs Counselor Andrew C. Mann fo
r reasons 1.5(b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000035
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2019
TAGS: PREL EU SY NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SYRIA: EU UNLIKELY TO ACT QUICKLY ON
SYRIA AGREEMENT
REF: A. SECSTATE 1985
B. 08 THE HAGUE 927
Classified By: Political & Economic Affairs Counselor Andrew C. Mann fo
r reasons 1.5(b,d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch believe the EU is unlikely to move
forward quickly on the association agreement with Syria. FM
Verhagen would be unlikely to approve such an agreement at
this time. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) EMBASSY delivered reftel A points to Peter van der
Bloemen, Dutch MFA senior policy adviser for Syria and
Lebanon, and also to the Dutch EU Correspondent and Deputy EU
Correspondent. Van der Bloemen responded on January 15 that
the EU is unlikely to approve the EU-Syria Association
Agreement for several months. The most recent agenda for the
January 16 PSC meeting did not include Syria on the agenda.
Other events, such as Gaza, are more pressing. The Czechs
need to consult with the most prominent adversaries on the
issue, the UK (opposing) and the French (supporting). And
the Czechs do not appear to be as consumed with this issue as
the French.
3. (C) Van der Bloemen further advised that his FM would be
skeptical of approving such an agreement at this time. The
agreement would be hard to sell in the Dutch parliament. The
lack of Syrian cooperation with the IAEA and the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon is "worrying." The Syrians have not
given any recent positive signals to the west in support of
the association agreement, such as naming an ambassador to
Lebanon. Moreover, the Dutch EMBASSY in Damascus reports
that the GOS appears "fed up" with the EU discussion,
claiming the EU is making new demands. Although van der
Bloemen and FM Verhagen think an agreement could be
"constructive" in encouraging Syria to support progress in
the Middle East, "nothing is happening on the ground," and
Verhagen continues to see the need for positive signals from
Syria to support an agreement, as he told D/PM Dardari
(reftel B).
CULBERTSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2019
TAGS: PREL EU SY NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SYRIA: EU UNLIKELY TO ACT QUICKLY ON
SYRIA AGREEMENT
REF: A. SECSTATE 1985
B. 08 THE HAGUE 927
Classified By: Political & Economic Affairs Counselor Andrew C. Mann fo
r reasons 1.5(b,d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch believe the EU is unlikely to move
forward quickly on the association agreement with Syria. FM
Verhagen would be unlikely to approve such an agreement at
this time. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) EMBASSY delivered reftel A points to Peter van der
Bloemen, Dutch MFA senior policy adviser for Syria and
Lebanon, and also to the Dutch EU Correspondent and Deputy EU
Correspondent. Van der Bloemen responded on January 15 that
the EU is unlikely to approve the EU-Syria Association
Agreement for several months. The most recent agenda for the
January 16 PSC meeting did not include Syria on the agenda.
Other events, such as Gaza, are more pressing. The Czechs
need to consult with the most prominent adversaries on the
issue, the UK (opposing) and the French (supporting). And
the Czechs do not appear to be as consumed with this issue as
the French.
3. (C) Van der Bloemen further advised that his FM would be
skeptical of approving such an agreement at this time. The
agreement would be hard to sell in the Dutch parliament. The
lack of Syrian cooperation with the IAEA and the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon is "worrying." The Syrians have not
given any recent positive signals to the west in support of
the association agreement, such as naming an ambassador to
Lebanon. Moreover, the Dutch EMBASSY in Damascus reports
that the GOS appears "fed up" with the EU discussion,
claiming the EU is making new demands. Although van der
Bloemen and FM Verhagen think an agreement could be
"constructive" in encouraging Syria to support progress in
the Middle East, "nothing is happening on the ground," and
Verhagen continues to see the need for positive signals from
Syria to support an agreement, as he told D/PM Dardari
(reftel B).
CULBERTSON