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| Identifier: | 04THEHAGUE381 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 04THEHAGUE381 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy The Hague |
| Created: | 2004-02-13 14:48:00 |
| Classification: | SECRET |
| Tags: | MOPS MARR PREL PTER AF NL |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000381
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2014
TAGS: MOPS, MARR, PREL, PTER, AF, NL
SUBJECT: DUTCH ON PRTS
REF: A. STATE 30871
B. THE HAGUE 248
C. THE HAGUE 281
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR CLIFFORD M. SOBEL FOR REASONS 1
.5 (B AND D).
1. (S) PM Balkenende's Foreign Policy Advisor Rob Swartbol
informed Amb. Sobel on February 12 that, following FM Bot's
trip to Washington, the Dutch government was actively
considering participating in a PRT in Afghanistan. The
options under consideration include possibly joining the
Germans, Scandinavians, or British in their operations.
Separately, Dutch MOD J-3 Air Commodore Pieter Cobelens
informed DATT also on February 12 that FM Bot and Defense
Minister Kamp are expected to meet on February 20 to discuss
Dutch PRT participation and possible deployment of SOF to
Afghanistan in support of OEF. As reported ref B, there
remains stronger support for the latter option within the
uniformed services. Dutch MOD and MFA action levels remain
noncomittal towards possible Dutch PRT participation.
2. (S) Comment: When the defense and foreign affairs
ministers meet, they will be balancing a desire to do their
fair share in Afghanistan against some deep seated concerns
in parliament and government. As noted Ref C, the idea of a
PRT conjures for some the worst memories of Srebrenica. If
the Dutch government is to gain consensus to participate in a
PRT, it will have to ease these concerns, especially about in
extremis extraction. This week, the government saw some
encouraging signs in parliament: leaders they sounded out
were more positive towards a PRT than expected, and
parliament easily concurred with the government's decision to
deploy Apache helicopters in Afghanistan. The government
will also have to overcome concerns about costs, including
from powerful Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm. As one MFA
official said after FM Bot's visit to Washington, the GONL
was "not negative" on taking on a PRT, but "there's a lot to
be clarified." The top levels of the Dutch government seem
more energized than a week ago, but this is a process of
trying to build consensus.
SOBEL
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