Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09THEHAGUE692
2009-11-13 16:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: "CONSTRUCTIVE" APPROACH
how-toVZCZCXRO7609 PP RUEHSL DE RUEHTC #0692 3171649 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131649Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3477 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0005 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000692
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM NL KAWC ICTY SR
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SERBIA: "CONSTRUCTIVE" APPROACH
REF: THE HAGUE 674
Classified By: PolEcon Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,d)
(C) The Dutch are easing their opposition to closer EU ties
to Serbia. In a November 11 debate in the Dutch parliament,
FM Verhagen cited positive developments in Serbian efforts to
apprehend war criminals. Ard van der Vorst, MFA Coordinator
for Political Affairs for the Western Balkans, told Post on
November 13 that the FM was responding to parliamentary
questions about how he would react to new information.
According to Van der Vorst, the FM said that if the Serbs do
"all they can," the FM will rethink his position. Asked if
the Dutch would still wait for ICTY Prosecutor Brammertz to
cite "full cooperation" by Serbia, Van der Vorst said
Brammertz "will never say full cooperation." However, the
news from Belgrade and Brammertz' office has been
"enthusiastic" about Serbian efforts. Asked if the Dutch
reaction was a change of position, Van der Vorst first said
the Netherlands was "easing" its position, then retracted
that phrase and said the Dutch were being "constructive."
Van der Vorst repeated his request for the FBI report on
Serbian efforts to find the fugitive Mladic (reftel).
(COMMENT: Our understanding is that the Dutch would welcome
news of positive efforts by Serbia in order to support a
decision to agree to EU consensus on closer ties with Serbia.
END COMMENT.)
LEVIN