NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: REQUEST FOR FBI REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000674 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM NL KAWC ICTY SR SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: REQUEST FOR FBI REPORT REF: A. EMAIL RAPP-VIBUL-JOLLES 10/29/09 ¶B. BELGRADE 1222 ¶C. THE HAGUE 340 Classified By: PolEcon Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch MFA has requested information on the FBI report on Serbia's efforts to apprehend alleged war criminal Ratko Mladic. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Ard van der Vorst, Coordinator for Political Affairs for the Western Balkans, requested a meeting with PolDep November 3 and requested the USG share information on the FBI work with Serbian authorities. After having seen Serbian press reports that S/WCI Ambassador Rapp had allegedly agreed to pressure the Dutch to support closer EU ties to Serbia, Van der Vorst asked if there had been any change in U.S. policy toward the Netherlands on the question of Dutch opposition to an EU SAA for Serbia. He noted the Swedes had told the Dutch they expected to receive the FBI report of the recent work in Belgrade. Van der Vorst said hearing this information from the Swedes was "strange," and maybe it was a "bluff" (to pressure the Netherlands). He emphasized FM Verhagen, with the strong support of the Dutch parliament, continued to oppose closer EU ties to Serbia until there is "full cooperation" with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Prosecutor Serge Brammertz. ¶3. (C) PolDep delivered the message of Ambassador Rapp, clarifying that the U.S. had not changed position, did not intend to pressure the Dutch government, and intended only to aid communication (ref email). ¶4. (C) RECOMMENDATIONS: Post recommends that (1) Dutch officials, in The Hague or in Washington, receive a briefing concerning the FBI report, including how/if it will be shared among EU members, the Netherlands in particular, and the ICTY, and (2) Brammertz be briefed on the FBI report ahead of the EU. END RECOMMENDATIONS. LEVIN