US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1721

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001721 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, NL, SU, UNSC 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SUDAN:  DUTCH IN DRIVER'S SEAT IN 
EUROPE 
 
REF: A. (A) THE HAGUE 1717 
 
     B. (B) STATE 145183 
     C. (C) BRUSSELS 2897 
 
Classified By: POL COUNSELOR ANDREW SCHOFER FOR REASONS (B) AND (D) 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1. (C) The Dutch see themselves as leading Europe to take 
firmer action on Sudan.  The highest levels of the Dutch 
government, including the Prime Minister, are actively 
engaged on this issue.  Bilaterally, the Dutch have pressed 
the Sudanese government to implement its commitments and have 
pledged more than $25 million in direct assistance, as well 
as an extra million in assistance for the EU Protection Force 
along with 2 observers and 3 helicopters.  The Dutch are 
currently discussing a plan of action for Sudan with their 
European colleagues, which would include a timeframe, 
specific benchmarks, and sanctions.  The Dutch also expressed 
interest in strong international cooperation, including with 
the U.S. and UN, on common expectations and sanctions if the 
Sudanese government commitments are not implemented. 
 
DUTCH ENGAGED FROM THE TOP 
-------------------------- 
 
2. (C) As noted ref a, Ambassador Sobel raised the issue of 
Sudan with Dutch Foreign Minister Bot on July 7.  Although 
Bot expressed some dissatisfaction that the EU was not 
getting credit for its efforts in Sudan to date, he 
reiterated that the Netherlands will continue to push for a 
strengthened European effort to end the humanitarian disaster 
there.  Prime Minister Balkenende reportedly also has a 
strong personal interest in the subject; a Dutch MFA source 
told POLCOUNS on July 9 that the MFA was rebuked by 
Balkenende when it recently left Sudan off the list of issues 
to be discussed at the PM's regular Friday cabinet meeting. 
 
3. (C) On July 7, S/WCI Pierre Prosper briefed Hugo Siblesz, 
the Dutch MFA's Director General for Political Affairs, on 
the catastrophic human rights situation in Sudan.  Prosper 
noted that the Netherlands, as current EU president, could 
play a special role in mobilizing international pressure to 
convince the Sudanese government to live up to its 
commitments to Secretary Powell and UNSYG Annan.  Siblesz 
responded that the GONL was deeply concerned about the 
situation in Sudan and had placed the issue on the agenda for 
the EU's GAERC ministerial July 12-13.  The Netherlands would 
be supportive of a UNSC resolution, he added, and would work 
to develop consensus within the EU as well.  The EU, he said, 
could exert influence both through political pressure and 
through the judicious use of humanitarian development 
assistance; these efforts should operate in parallel. 
 
WILLING TO GET TOUGH... 
----------------------- 
 
4. (C) On July 8, Poloff delivered ref b points on Darfur to 
Arjan Schuthof, head of MFA African Horn section of the Dutch 
MFA.  Schuthof praised U.S. efforts in the region, and 
explained that the Dutch have both bilateral and multilateral 
efforts underway in Sudan.  In her recent visit to Sudan, 
Dutch Minister for Development Van Ardenne publically and 
privately pressed the Sudanese government to comply with 
commitments.  The Dutch, however, have serious doubts about 
the GOS' intention to implement its promises.  Schuthof noted 
the importance of multilateral pressure to achieve further 
progress, and said that the Dutch would contribute 2 
observers to the EU Protection Force. 
 
5. (C) Schuthof placed particular emphasis on the necessity 
of resuming peace talks immediately, but worried that finding 
a location acceptable to both sides would be difficult. 
Asked about the draft UNSC resolution, Schuthof said it "did 
not go far enough," noting that sanctions should be imposed 
on both the Jingaweit and the Khartoum government.  Schuthof 
suggested that the circulation of additional information by 
the U.S. to help the international community classify the 
conflict as "ethnic cleansing" or "genocide" could also help 
put the conflict into an appropriate international context. 
 
...BUT EU STILL LAGGING BEHIND 
------------------------------ 
 
6. (C) According to Schuthof, the EU "has lagged behind" 
regarding Sudan despite Dutch efforts to call for stronger 
political signals and more active contributions.  Schuthof 
helped author a Dutch plan of action that sets specific 
benchmarks for the Sudanese Government to meet within a 
definite timeframe, and calls for specific EU sanctions (i.e. 
economic sanctions, asset freezing, and travel restrictions) 
if they are not met.  This plan is currently under discussion 
at the EU Africa Working Group meeting in Brussels. 
 
7. (C) Schuthof commented some EU colleagues want to weaken 
statements and actions, citing as an example "except for the 
Germans, many EU colleagues want to replace the word 
'sanctions' with the word 'measures' which is much weaker." 
Schuthof again commented that Minister Van Ardenne and others 
are playing an extremely active role behind the scenes 
pushing for stronger language.  Although the issue would be 
raised at the July GAERC, Schuthof expected specific EU 
actions would only be discussed at the September GAERC. 
Schuthof expressed interest in collaborating with the U.S. 
and UN on joint expectations of the Sudanese Government and 
joint consequences to force the Sudanese into compliance. 
 
RECENT ASSISTANCE 
----------------- 
 
8. (C) Schuthof turned over a memo detailing Dutch 
contributions on Darfur to date.  Just this week the 
Netherlands committed another 10 million euros (USD 12.4 
million) for Darfur relief, and announced they would pay the 
cost of three MI-8 helicopters (including maintenance and 
fuel) to help the Africa Union deliver assistance to Darfur. 
In total the Netherlands has committed 27.5 million euros 
(USD 34.07 million) to alleviate the Darfur crisis. 
 
9. Schuthof also stated that the Dutch are actively 
encouraging their EU colleagues to make contributions.  He 
said the EU is circulating an "inventory" to be discussed at 
the July GAERC which would provide the basis for further 
collective action. 
SOBEL