NETHERLANDS: LOOKING FOR CFE GUIDANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000556 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2019 TAGS: KCFE PARM PREL NATO NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: LOOKING FOR CFE GUIDANCE REF: SECSTATE 92528 Classified By: ACTING POLECON COUNSELOR SHAWN GRAY FOR REASONS 1.5(b,d) ¶1. (C) The Dutch welcome more information about U.S. plans to resolve the impasse between Russia and the United States regarding the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). PolDep shared reftel discussion points with Erica Schouten, MFA Head of NATO Affairs, MFA Senior Policy Advisor Rein Dekkers, and MOD Arms Control Advisor Otto Verberne. Schouten asked for further details on the status of U.S. parallel steps proposals; she understood that those steps would be finalized in August. ¶2. (C) Schouten also noted the Netherlands welcomes the U.S. proposal to broaden the participants in U.S.-Russia CFE meetings. Such a step would be a useful confidence-building measure for some nations in particular. However, the Dutch have the impression that the large number of participants at the July conference in Berlin was not what the United States intended. "The Germans were in a difficult position," said Schouten. However, it would be difficult for any Ally except the United States to give guidance on who should participate in the discussion, so further guidance from Washington would be welcome. LEVIN