US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1770

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001770 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2014 
TAGS: PREL, NL, EU, IS, UNGA 
SUBJECT: DUTCH/EU ON ARAB RESOLUTION ON ISRAELI SECURITY BARRIER 
 
REF: A.  SCHOFER-HOLLIDAY TELCON 7/9/04 
b. SECSTATE 152014 
c. PARIS 5294 
 
Classified By:  Ambassador Clifford Sobel; REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1. (C) On July 9, Ambassador Sobel discussed the anticipated ICJ 
decision on the Israeli Security Barrier with Hugo Siblesz, the Dutch 
MFA's Director General for Political Affairs (ref a).  At that time, 
Siblesz said that while elements of the substance of the decision were 
expected to be close to the Dutch national position, the Dutch were 
uncomfortable with the Arab strategy of forcing a debate in the General 
Assembly.  Siblesz felt that it would be impossible to keep the Arabs 
from putting their resolution forward, but suggested that the EU might 
-- at best -- be able to agree to abstain.  He stressed that, as EU 
president, the Dutch would seek to develop a coordinated EU position. 
. 
2. (C) On July 13, Poloff delivered ref b points to Peter Ramaer, Head 
of the Political and Legal Affairs Division in the UN Department at the 
MFA.  Ramaer was aware of the EU FM's discussion of the issue in 
Brussels on July 12, but claimed that it was still "too early" to talk 
about a coordinated EU reaction to subject resolution.  Ramaer relayed 
what he characterized as "positive notes on the opinion itself" from EU 
colleagues, but stressed that the EU Foreign Ministers' had basically 
moved the discussion to New York without reaching agreement.