US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1881

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001881 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2014 
TAGS: MOPS, IZ, NL, NATO 
SUBJECT: NATO/IRAQ:  DUTCH ON NATO TRAINING 
 
REF: STATE 161037 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ANDREW SCHOFER FOR REASONS 1.5 (B AND D) 
 
 (C) PolMilOff delivered reftel points to MFA Security Policy 
Operations Acting Director Joost Flamand on July 26.  Flamand 
said that while the GONL did not object to "dual-hatting" the 
MNF-I commander as commander of the NATO training mission, 
the Dutch thought it might be preferable to first obtain 
agreement on the details of the training mission.  Flamand 
acknowledged the U.S. had presented "sound reasons" for 
dual-hatting MNF-I commander as NATO mission commander. 
Nevertheless, given the imperative to broaden allied 
participation in Iraq, such a step might give those allies 
not in Iraq an excuse to argue against the mission.  Flamand 
stressed the GONL wanted NATO to be able to carry out its 
Istanbul commitments.  He suggested that, should the issue of 
command become a focal point for disagreement, it might be 
advisable to indicate dual-hatting as "a preference" 
depending on the outcome of discussions over NATO's exact 
role.  Flamand also noted the Netherlands as EU President 
will lead an exploratory mission to Iraq to see if the EU can 
play a role, perhaps in police training.  He expressed 
concern that the French and the Germans might use the lack of 
clarity concerning the EU's role as a pretext to block 
consensus in NATO. 
RUSSEL