US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE2126

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002126 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, GG, GM, NL, EUN 
SUBJECT: EU/NETHERLANDS/SOUTH OSSETIA:  DUTCH SKEPTICAL 
ABOUT BADEN PROCESS 
 
REF: STATE 180508 
 
Classified By: POLCOUNS ANDREW J. SCHOFER FOR REASONS 1.5(B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) On August 24, POLCOUNS discussed reftel points with 
Tony van der Togt, Head of the Dutch MFA's Eastern Europe and 
Central Asia Division, and Frank van Beuningen, Policy 
Coordinator for the OSCE within the MFA's Department of 
Security Policy.  Both interlocutors were well briefed on the 
situation on the ground and the state of discussions within 
the OSCE and EU.  While they spoke positively of the need to 
internationalize the South Ossetia issue, both expressed 
skepticism that the Baden Process -- even at an elevated 
level -- would be the most effective way to accomplish this 
objective. 
 
2. (C) Referring to the recent Dutch experience as OSCE CIO, 
van Beuningen and van der Togt argued that Baden Process was 
"dead or nearly dead."  Van Beuningen observed that a 
previous Baden Process meeting in the Netherlands had "made 
some Dutch shopkeepers happy" but achieved no practical 
results.  The flaws of the Baden Process, they suggested, 
would not be resolved by raising the level of participation 
-- although they acknowledged this was a positive step -- 
especially under a relatively "weak" CIO such as Bulgaria. 
 
3   (C) Van Beuningen and van der Togt made clear that they 
were not yet prepared to give up on the possibility of 
creating a broader international mechanism, such as the 
international conference proposed by Saakashvili.  In 
response to POLCOUNS' arguments that reinvigorating the Baden 
Process could be a useful first step in an expanding process, 
van der Togt and van Beuningen questioned whether such a step 
was necessary.  The Russians, van Beuningen argued, had 
agreed in principle to consider broader international 
mechanisms when they signed on to the OSCE mission's mandate 
in 2000.  In addition, van der Togt noted that during 
EU-Russian discussions earlier this year, Russian DFM 
Loschinin had praised the EU's "balanced" approach to 
Georgia, so he did not think the Russians could credibly 
argue against a process that included the EU. 
 
4. (C) Regarding next steps, van der Togt and van Beuningen 
said that they did not expect the EU or OSCE to take further 
action until after special representative Talvitie returns 
and reports.  The Dutch are, however, currently preparing a 
joint EU response to a letter from Saakashvili, in which the 
EU would: 1) express support for recent efforts to stabilize 
the situation (and warn against aggravating actions); 2) 
sound a "positive note" about a possible international 
conference; 3) stress the importance of continuing the OSCE 
mission; and 4) mention the possibility of humanitarian 
assistance in general terms.  Van der Togt noted that the 
Dutch hoped to get the letter out before the end of the week 
-- and before Schroeder and Chirac meet Putin in Sochi August 
30-31 -- to ensure a coordinated EU response. 
 
5. (C) Throughout the discussion, van Beuningen and van der 
Togt stressed that that they shared USG concerns regarding 
the developing situation in South Ossetia and wished to 
coordinate closely.  Van der Togt said he looked forward to 
discussing this issue, and how to keep the EU and U.S. 
effectively engaged on it, at the COEST troika meeting on 
September 1 in Brussels.  With regard to the OSCE, the 
suggested that the next OSCE PC where the issue would 
logically appear on the agenda would take place the week of 
September 6. 
RUSSEL