US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE584

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000584 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2014 
TAGS: IZ, NL, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: DUTCH VIEWS ON PM'S MARCH 16 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT 
 
 
Classified By: AMB CLIFFORD M. SOBEL FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  On March 9, Ambassador Sobel met separately 
with FM Bot and the PM's diplomatic advisor, Rob Swartbol, to 
preview the March 16 meeting between the President and PM 
Balkenende.  PM Balkenede will bring the message that the 
Dutch EU presidency will advance the transatlantic agenda in 
concrete ways, including seeking close U.S.-EU cooperation on 
the Greater Middle East, on counter-terrorism, and on the 
international economic agenda.  He also will be prepared to 
talk about Turkey and China.  In preparation for the visit, 
the GoNL is advancing plans for PRT's in Afghanistan and an 
extension of Dutch troops in Iraq.  These deployment 
decisions are in the planning phase, and will require 
detailed discussion with parliament.  The public impression 
the Dutch want to create is that the Netherlands is a serious 
partner of the U.S., focused on getting things done with us 
and serving as a bridge to Europe.  The Prime Minister and 
Foreign Minister are traveling extensively to solidify 
relationships in Europe before their presidency begins. End 
Summary. 
 
------ 
Turkey 
------ 
 
2.  (C) Just back from an EU troika visit to Ankara, FM Bot 
said that Turkey's prospects for joining the EU were looking 
good but would depend heavily on whether a Cyprus deal is 
reached.  As a former ambassador to Ankara, Bot also noted 
that Turkey remains a "master of shooting itself in the 
foot."  During talks with the troika, both Gul and Erdogan 
insisted that, if a Cyprus deal is reached, the Annan deal 
should be incorporated into EU primary law, which would 
require ratification in all EU countries.  The Troika said 
that such a process could doom Turkey's and northern Cyprus's 
accession if even one country failed to ratify.  Erdogan and 
Gul reportedly insisted that they need the legal protection. 
Bot said Turkey fears that even a private citizen upset about 
real estate could take the Annan plan to the European Court, 
that the court could find the Annan plan in violation of EU 
primary law, and that that in turn could block northern 
Cyprus from entering the EU. Separately, PM Balkenende's 
diplomatic advisor Rob Swartbol said PM Balkenende spoke with 
President Chirac for 45 minutes March 9 about Turkey and IGC 
matters.  Swartbol was more cautious about Turkey's 
prospects, noting that some countries, including France, were 
not yet prepared to give Turkey an unqualified "yes." 
 
------------------- 
Greater Middle East 
------------------- 
 
3.  (C) The Dutch plan to tell the President that they are 
prepared to put into action any agreements on GME that the 
G-8, NATO, U.S.-EU, and EU Council summits reach in June. 
The Dutch believe the U.S. and EU should be partners in 
implementing a strategy for the Middle East, that their 
message should be coordinated so no perceived differences can 
be exploited, and that they should play to their relative 
strengths, creating a synergy.  FM Bot cited 
non-proliferation, rule of law and democracy as goals for the 
region, and reiterated an interest in seeing the peace 
process move forward.  (Note:  In a March 5 speach to a Dutch 
Christian Democratic group, Bot endorsed the President's call 
for a UNSC nonproliferation resolution and for U.S.-EU 
cooperation on the greater Middle East. End note.) Swartbol 
later said the Dutch were talking to Turkey about the 
possibility of Turkey hosting a meeting between the EU and 
the Conference of Islamic States during the Dutch EU 
presidency. 
 
---- 
Iraq 
---- 
 
4. (C)  The PM will ask about U.S. intentions in Iraq after 
June 30 and will tell the President that the cabinet 
instructed the military to begin plans to extend the troops 
through 2004, pending parliamentary approval.  They are also 
intrigued at the idea of training Iraqi diplomats and 
reviewing whether they have the capacity to coordinate an 
international effort or to "train the trainers." 
 
----------- 
Afghanistan 
----------- 
 
5. (C)  The Prime Minister will also say that the Dutch have 
a team in Afghanistan now to investigate possible 
participation in a provincial reconstruction team. Current 
indications are that they will offer to lead a PRT.  They 
have begun to lay the groundwork with parliament. 
 
----------------- 
Counter-Terrorism 
----------------- 
 
6. (C) Political Director Siblesz said that the Dutch would 
like to use their presidency to get the EU as a whole to do 
the kinds of things the Dutch and U.S. are doing bilaterally, 
especially on such border security issues as the Container 
Security Initiative and biometrics.  Swartbol said the Dutch 
were toying with the idea of suggesting that the EU create a 
Solana-like position for Justice and Home Affairs so that the 
EU had a clear counterpart to offer to the U.S. and other 
external partners. 
 
---------- 
Innovation 
---------- 
 
7. (U) The Prime Minister is interested in spurring more 
cooperation between the U.S. and the EU on economic and 
technical innovation.  He believes the EU's Lisbon agenda 
should be pursued in cooperative terms with the U.S., vice 
competitive ones.  He is also considering hosting an event on 
innovation with the explicit goal of generating a report to 
the EU Council that in turn would lead to a Council direction 
to the Commission. 
 
---------------- 
Norms and Values 
---------------- 
 
8. (U) Balkende might also describe how he plans to make 
norms and values an agenda item in Europe during the Dutch 
presidency. 
SOBEL