US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE2495

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002495 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR FOR DAS KENNEDY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2014 
TAGS: PREL, ECIN, CY, NL, EUN 
SUBJECT: CYPRUS/NETHERLANDS: APPROACH TO EU MEMBERS ON AID, 
TRADE FOR NORTH CYPRUS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 209905 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b) a 
nd (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Poloff delivered reftel points on September 30 to 
Hannie Pollman-Zall, Director of the Dutch MFA's Western and 
Central European Affairs Department.  Pollman-Zall responded 
that "many lawyers are breaking their heads over ways to 
facilitate direct Turkish Cypriot trade with the EU."  She 
welcomed the USG's approval of assistance and appreciated 
receiving notice that the design teams are on the island. 
She added that the EU is still working to resolve the 
aid/trade issue internally. 
 
2.  (C)  Pollman-Zall noted that the EU is frustrated by 
Turkish refusal to invite the GOC, as one of the EU 25, to 
the upcoming EU/OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) 
meeting called by Turkey.  She said that when Turkey 
initially invited only the EU 24 (without Cyprus) to the 
meeting, the Dutch EU Presidency forwarded the invitation to 
all 25.  When the Turks sent hotel information only to the EU 
24, the Dutch resent it to all 25. Now, the Turks insist on 
including the "Turkish Cypriot State" in the meeting, 
something the EU cannot accept, she said.  "The Turks are not 
being helpful,"  she complained, noting that it would have 
been in Ankara's interest to be more politically correct at 
this point. 
 
3.  (C)  According to Pollman-Zall, the Turks claim that 
their position on is justified because of the EU's "failure" 
to devise a plan to help the Turkish Cypriots.  When asked, 
she said she could not think of anything the USG could do at 
this point to help resolve the impasse.  She suggested that 
the EU might eventually develop a solution allowing for 
"lower level" representation at the EU/OIC meeting along the 
lines of the compromise reached on Burma's participation in 
the Hanoi ASEM (Asia/EU) meeting.  Pollman-Zall said that 
COREPER met September 29 to discuss the issue, but said she 
did not yet know the results of that discussion. 
SOBEL