NETHERLANDS/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: SUPPORT FOR U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000572 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2019 TAGS: UN PHUM PREL NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: SUPPORT FOR U.S. VIEWS REF: A. SECSTATE 93374 ¶B. 2008 THE HAGUE 757 Classified By: ... 226166 2009-09-21 09THEHAGUE572 Embassy The Hague CONFIDENTIAL 08THEHAGUE757|09SECSTATE93374 C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000572 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2019 TAGS: UN PHUM PREL NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: SUPPORT FOR U.S. VIEWS REF: A. SECSTATE 93374 ¶B. 2008 THE HAGUE 757 Classified By: POLECON Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,c) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch generally share U.S. views on the agenda items for the 12th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC). The Dutch are concerned about how to respond to Judge Goldstone's report on Israel and Russia's proposal to review the HRC process. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) DUTCH SUPPORT FOR U.S. POSITIONS: Post delivered reftel A points to key Dutch MFA contacts, and Pol Deputy met with Edwin Keijzer, senior policy officer in the MFA Human Rights Directorate, on September 16. Keijzer made the following points: -- Freedom of Expression: The Dutch do not want the freedom of expression resolution to hinder the Allied response to the Goldstone report, a higher profile political problem (see para 3 below). On the substance, the Dutch are willing to support U.S. efforts to find consensus but want wording on part 3bis that could create human rights for a religion. In addition, the Dutch want to find language to broaden the scope of coverage and prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, not just race and religion. Such language would need to be general in nature to avoid creating opposition. -- Colombia resolution on gender discrimination: The EU has not reached consensus on this resolution. The Dutch hesitate to create a new institution but want to respond to the new laws some nations have enacted in support of discrimination. The Dutch expect to follow the EU position, which will likely support the resolution. -- Technical Assistance to Burundi, Somalia, Cambodia: The Dutch support the renewal of these technical assistance mandates. For Somalia, it is important to have a clear mandate with monitoring. -- Russian Proposal on traditional values: The Dutch agree the Russian proposal could be problematic in that it could easily water down universal human rights. The Dutch would need revised text to address that issue before supporting the measure. ¶3. (C) DUTCH CONCERNS: Keijzer noted also that the Allied response to the Goldstone report will be difficult. Pakistan's proposed resolution to simply accept the content and recommendation of the report is difficult to challenge. (Note: Subsequently, FM Verhagen stated publicly that he found the Goldstone report one sided, in that it finds fault with Israel for not stopping violations by Hamas. Verhagen also faults Goldstone for not bringing the report to the HRC before passing it to the Security Council. End note.) The report could result in ICC and ICJ referrals for Israel. In addition, the Dutch are concerned about a Russian proposal to review the HRC in Geneva. Responding to a demarche, the Dutch told Russian diplomats that a Geneva discussion would be too regional, with splits among the different regions. The Dutch did not tell the Russians their view that a New York discussion would provide for a better balance of power for proponents of human rights. LEVIN