US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1093

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001093 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, PHUM, AF, IZ, CH, NL, EUN 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S APRIL 23 MEETING WITH DUTCH POLITICAL 
DIRECTOR:  IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Clifford M. Sobel for reasons 1.5 (B and D) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Ambassador Sobel met with Dutch MFA 
Political Director Hugo Siblesz on April 23 to discuss an 
upcoming Iraqi judicial conference in The Hague, possible 
Dutch leadership of a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in 
Afghanistan, extension of the Dutch troop deployment in Iraq, 
the U.S.-EU transatlantic dialogue, and the EU's China Arms 
Embargo.  Siblesz expressed support for the proposed Iraqi 
judicial conference.  He outlined Dutch and German 
discussions concerning PRT cooperation near the German-led 
PRT in Konduz.  He said that the cabinet was likely to decide 
on an extension of the Dutch Iraq deployment in mid-May. 
Siblesz expressed concern about the potential downgrading of 
the Dutch on the U.S. TIP report (reported septel).  He said 
security would be the main focus of the transatlantic 
dialogue during the Dutch EU Presidency.  Concerning 
opposition to lifting the EU arms embargo on China, he 
suggested that the U.S. had a stronger argument in focusing 
on regional stability and Taiwan rather than on human rights 
concerns.  End summary. 
 
------------------------- 
Iraqi Judicial Conference 
------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Amb. Sobel briefed Siblesz on the upcoming 
CPA-sponsored conference on rule of law for approximately 20 
Iraqi judges to take place in The Hague, May 5-7, 2004.  The 
conference will feature participation by Supreme Court 
Justices Anthony M. Kennedy and Sandra Day O'Connor as well 
as UK Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord Wolf. 
Siblesz echoed FM Bot's enthusiasm for the project who said 
that such events are "what The Hague is all about."  Amb. 
encouraged Dutch participation and requested GONL support for 
logistics issues including security.  Siblesz said he would 
raise the matter with the Dutch Justice Ministry that 
afternoon. 
 
---- 
PRTs 
---- 
 
3. (S) Amb. Sobel stressed that the U.S. encouraged Dutch 
involvement with PRTs in Afghanistan.  He observed that many 
countries are interested in working in the north of the 
country and raised the possibility of the Netherlands 
deploying in the west.  Siblesz said the Dutch military's 
preference was to go to Baghlan near the German PRT at 
Konduz, though the GONL had certain problems with German 
arrangements for command and control.  As far as the west was 
concerned, the logistics were more problematic.  He said that 
the Dutch had spoken with Spanish FM Moratinos and said that 
cooperation with the Spanish might be another option.  That 
said, the GONL's first priority was to work with the Germans, 
further to an agreement between PM Balkenende and Chancellor 
Schroeder during their meeting in The Hague the previous 
week.  Siblesz said the GONL still planned to reach a 
decision in time for the Istanbul Summit.  He said this 
decision might also include a decision to deploy a small 
number of Dutch Army special operations forces commandos in 
support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 
 
--------------------- 
Iraq troop deployment 
--------------------- 
 
4. (C) Siblesz said the GONL was looking at mid-May for a 
cabinet decision to extend the deployment of Dutch troops in 
Iraq currently due to expire on July 15 (note:  the Dutch 
have 1300 troops in Al Muthanna province as part of the UK 
Multinational Division.  end note).  He said the Cabinet 
would have to make its decision on the basis of assumptions 
about progress towards another UNSCR and a request from a new 
Iraqi government.  This would be followed by a parliamentary 
debate.  The cabinet decision might have to be linked to a 
clause calling for additional discussion in June on the basis 
of its assumptions about a UNSCR and an Iraqi request. 
Siblesz said the GONL could proceed on the basis of support 
from a simple majority in parliament, however its preference 
is for consensus to include the main opposition Labor Party. 
In this regard, signals from Labor are not very promising. 
In terms of duration, Siblesz said the GONL was planning for 
an eight month extension.  This would accommodate two Dutch 
troop rotations (which last four months) and would get past 
the planned elections in January 2005. 
 
---------------------------- 
U.S.-EU Transatlantic Agenda 
---------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Amb. Sobel noted the April 26-27 visit of EUR/PDAS 
Ries presented an excellent opportunity to look at 
possibilities for the U.S.-EU transatlantic agenda during the 
Dutch EU Presidency starting July 1.  Siblesz said the Dutch 
priorities would be "security, security, security."  Amb. 
Sobel said we were exploring the possibilities for meetings 
between Sec. Ridge and Attorney General Ashcroft and their 
Dutch counterparts during the Dutch presidency.  Siblesz said 
the EU's "basket" structure for addressing these issues might 
not reflect the reality of what we are trying to accomplish. 
Turning to terrorist-financing, Siblesz said that he 
supported qualified majority voting on Clearing House issues. 
 
--------------------- 
EU China Arms Embargo 
--------------------- 
 
6. (C) The Ambassador argued against lifting the EU China 
Arms Embargo.  Siblesz said it appeared the Irish had passed 
this issue to the Dutch Presidency, and that he would be 
happy to pass it in turn to Luxembourg.  The problem is the 
EU-China Summit is due to take place during the Dutch 
Presidency.  He said that PRC officials raised the matter 
repeatedly during PM Balkenende's recent trip to China. 
Siblesz said that he did not think U.S. arguments against 
lifting the embargo on human rights grounds were convincing. 
A better argument against lifting was the possible effects on 
regional stability and Taiwan.  He contended that no one 
would argue China's human rights situation was perfect, but 
it was not in the same league as Zimbabwe or Sudan.  He 
thought the real challenge would be adjusting the EU Code of 
Conduct on Arms Transfers to address China.  His advice would 
be for the U.S. to focus on addressing military goods within 
this context.  Siblesz said there was reluctance within the 
EU to address this issue, "everyone is watching everyone." 
He expected further discussion at the next EU political 
director's meeting but "no one will speak out against 
dropping it because it will get back to the Chinese."  The 
Ambassador pushed back again, stressing the importance of 
maintaining the embargo. 
SOBEL