US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1657

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 001657 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SCE, S/WCI AND EUR/UBI, TREASURY FOR OFAC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, EFIN, ETTC, KAWC, BK, MK, HR, GM, CY, HU, SL, SZ, YI, NL, ICTY, NK 
SUBJECT: OPERATION BALKAN VICE IV:  THE NETHERLANDS 
 
REF: A. STATE 142628 
 
     B. THE HAGUE 382 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR ANDREW SCHOFER FOR REA 
SONS 1.5 (B AND D) 
 
1. (S) PolOffs and Deputy Legal Counselor made ref A demarche 
to MFA Western Balkans Director Klaas van der Tempel on June 
30.  Van der Tempel said the GONL supported OHR's work 
against such individuals.  Concerning freezing the assets of 
the individuals named in ref A, van der Tempel said that 
while the Netherlands would support such an action, the aim 
was to address this on an EU-wide basis.  Previously, the 
Dutch have argued that it would be difficult, if not 
impossible, for them to impose such a freeze outside the EU 
context (ref B).  Thus, while van der Tempel said the Dutch 
would support such a freeze, it would be in the context of 
"complicated" discussions in the EU's Working Party of 
Foreign Relations Counselors (RELEX).  He suggested the USG 
engage with the Dutch Permanent Representation to the EU, and 
named Stefan van Wersh as the key POC.  Van der Tempel 
thought an visa ban would be less complicated, but again said 
the decision would need to be made on an EU-wide basis. 
 
2. (S) Economic Counselor and EconOff also delivered reftel 
points to the Dutch Ministry of Finance, which will pass them 
to the Dutch Central Bank, banking directors and the Dutch 
financial intelligence unit.  MinFin officials also said that 
the GONL will follow the EU lead (which they said was 
planning a parallel move) concerning designation of these 
individuals. 
 
3. (S) Comment:  The Dutch have long been strong supporters 
of the ICTY and the need to apprehend indictees, particularly 
those whom van der Tempel called "the Big Three":  Karadzic, 
Mladic and Gotovina.  Van der Tempel went out of his way to 
emphasize the tough Dutch position, shared only by the UK, on 
Croatian EU candidacy.  In light of Dutch assumption of the 
EU Presidency on July 1, their role in forming an EU 
consensus for financial measures against PIFWC supporters 
could be important, though the task would remain difficult. 
End comment. 
SOBEL