NETHERLANDS/IRAN: DISCUSSING AMCIT REQUEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000025

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2020
TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PROP PTER NL IR
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/IRAN: DISCUSSING AMCIT REQUEST

REF: A. SECSTATE 129480

B. 08 THE HAGUE 608

Classified By: DCM Edwin Nolan for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch agreed to consider raising with
both the EU and the GOI the matter of the Americans detained
in Iran. The GOI has recently made some overtures to the
GONL to "elevate" relations. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) AMCITS: On January 7, Charge d'Affaires raised ref A
points with Mr. Henne Schuwer, the Dutch MFA Middle East
Affairs Director. Schuwer was more forthcoming about
possibly assisting the AmCit detainees than his staff had
been in previous discussions (ref B). He noted the GONL was
mindful of the fact that both a French citizen and an Iranian
employee of the UK embassy remained in detention. In
addition, the GONL is concerned that any Dutch citizen in
Iran might be arrested on a pretext. Schuwer, therefore,
agreed to discuss the case about the Americans within the EU.
Sweden was "unwilling to make a ruckus" about the detainees
when it held the EU presidency. Schuwer was uncertain how
Spain would approach the issue. Schuwer also said he would
pass the U.S. request to the Dutch ambassador in Tehran.


3. (C) GOI PROPOSES ELEVATING RELATIONS: Schuwer added that
the Iranians had made some recent overtures toward the Dutch
that might lead to a high-level visit. The Iranian Charge
d'Affaires visited the MFA just before Christmas and
"lectured" Schuwer about how "horrible" the Netherlands was.
Schuwer said he responded in kind, but then the Iranian
concluded the discussion with the comment that "we should
elevate relations." The Iranian told Schuwer the GOI MFA has
a new DG for European Affairs and invited Schuwer to visit
him in Tehran. Schuwer responded that he would be just as
direct with the DG on points of disagreement, and would only
visit if accompanied by the Dutch human rights ambassador.
Schuwer also cautioned the Iranian that the West is
approaching additional sanctions, to which Iranian stated "we
will not back down." Nonetheless, the Iranian response on
prospects for a GONL visit was "not negative," and the Dutch
are looking at a possible visit in the first half of March.
Schuwer concluded that he thought the Iranians were "worried"
about relations with the West. In addition to the invitation
to visit, the Iranians have proposed a Dutch film festival in
Tehran, subject to government censorship, and have also made
a second request for Tamiflu antiviral medicine. The GONL
had rejected the initial request for Tamiflu "outright" but
is considering the second request because the government has
a surplus, and the flu season is nearly over.
LEVIN