Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09THEHAGUE671
2009-11-04 16:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/BELARUS: SUPPORTING CONTINUED SANCTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO8866 PP RUEHSL DE RUEHTC #0671 3081632 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041632Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3446 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000671
SENSITIVE
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EUR/UMB FOR JOE WANG
EUR/ERA FOR RACHEL WOLFE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM NL BO EU
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/BELARUS: SUPPORTING CONTINUED SANCTIONS
REF: A. STATE 112644
B. THE HAGUE 270
C. THE HAGUE 135
Classified By: PolEcon Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000671
SENSITIVE
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EUR/UMB FOR JOE WANG
EUR/ERA FOR RACHEL WOLFE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM NL BO EU
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/BELARUS: SUPPORTING CONTINUED SANCTIONS
REF: A. STATE 112644
B. THE HAGUE 270
C. THE HAGUE 135
Classified By: PolEcon Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,d)
1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: The Dutch support a "double rollover" of
EU sanctions and travel restrictions for Belarus but are not
optimistic about the EU supporting their view. The Dutch
openness to compromise on Belarus may reflect concern about
the Netherlands' image among member states. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) DUTCH VIEW: Post delivered reftel A points to MFA
contacts on EU and Eastern Europe. Carola van Rijnsoever, EU
Correspondent, told Post the Netherlands prefers to continued
sanctions. The Dutch agree with the U.S. assessment of
Belarus. "There hasn't been much change in Belarus" and
reforms are "going very slowly." Nonetheless, the Dutch are
"flexible" and will work to achieve consensus.
3. (C/NF) EU DISCUSSIONS: Van Rijnsoever said the EU did not
appear to favor continuing sanctions over the long term.
There is a possibility that the EU could temporarily extend
the visa restrictions and sanctions policies -- set to expire
in March and November respectively -- to ensure the EU
considers both the policies at the same time in the future.
This would provide a short term benefit of extending the
policies but make it harder to win EU support for continuing
the policies during future deliberations. Van Rijnsoever
also noted the United Kingdom, while supporting a "double
rollover" in meetings on November 3, was not "overly
enthusiastic."
4. (C/NF) COMMENT: Asked whether the Dutch approach --
supporting compromise on a human rights debate -- reflected
concern about the Netherlands' image among EU member states,
Van Rijnsoever said she had not heard any explicit statements
to that effect. Post reads this response as an
acknowledgment that criticism of the Dutch hard-line stances,
on Serbia for example, have prompted them to take a more
pragmatic and flexible approach on other human rights issues.
LEVIN
SENSITIVE
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EUR/UMB FOR JOE WANG
EUR/ERA FOR RACHEL WOLFE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM NL BO EU
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/BELARUS: SUPPORTING CONTINUED SANCTIONS
REF: A. STATE 112644
B. THE HAGUE 270
C. THE HAGUE 135
Classified By: PolEcon Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,d)
1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: The Dutch support a "double rollover" of
EU sanctions and travel restrictions for Belarus but are not
optimistic about the EU supporting their view. The Dutch
openness to compromise on Belarus may reflect concern about
the Netherlands' image among member states. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) DUTCH VIEW: Post delivered reftel A points to MFA
contacts on EU and Eastern Europe. Carola van Rijnsoever, EU
Correspondent, told Post the Netherlands prefers to continued
sanctions. The Dutch agree with the U.S. assessment of
Belarus. "There hasn't been much change in Belarus" and
reforms are "going very slowly." Nonetheless, the Dutch are
"flexible" and will work to achieve consensus.
3. (C/NF) EU DISCUSSIONS: Van Rijnsoever said the EU did not
appear to favor continuing sanctions over the long term.
There is a possibility that the EU could temporarily extend
the visa restrictions and sanctions policies -- set to expire
in March and November respectively -- to ensure the EU
considers both the policies at the same time in the future.
This would provide a short term benefit of extending the
policies but make it harder to win EU support for continuing
the policies during future deliberations. Van Rijnsoever
also noted the United Kingdom, while supporting a "double
rollover" in meetings on November 3, was not "overly
enthusiastic."
4. (C/NF) COMMENT: Asked whether the Dutch approach --
supporting compromise on a human rights debate -- reflected
concern about the Netherlands' image among EU member states,
Van Rijnsoever said she had not heard any explicit statements
to that effect. Post reads this response as an
acknowledgment that criticism of the Dutch hard-line stances,
on Serbia for example, have prompted them to take a more
pragmatic and flexible approach on other human rights issues.
LEVIN