US embassy cable - 01THEHAGUE3267

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 003267 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, SA/PAB, SA/SEAR, IO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2011 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, EAID, EUN, NL, JA 
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN'S FUTURE - DUTCH QUESTIONS 
 
REF: A. STATE 192153 
     B. TOKYO 7585 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: POLCOUNS MARY E. DALY, REASONS 1.5 B/D 
 
 1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE, CHARGE HAS SCHEDULED AN 
APPOINTMENT WITH DUTCH DEPUTY POLITICAL SECRETARY GENERAL 
HERMAN SCHAPER ON NOVEMBER 8 TO DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN'S FUTURE 
AND HE WOULD APPRECIATE TALKING POINTS TO ADDRESS DUTCH 
QUESTIONS IN PARA 2 BELOW BY COB WASHINGTON TIME ON NOVEMBER 
7. 
 
2. (C) DURING MEETINGS ON NOVEMBER 5 TO DISCUSS REF A TALKING 
POINTS ON AFGHANISTAN'S FUTURE, SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE DUTCH 
MFA'S SOUTH ASIA DEPARTMENT WERE LOOKING FOR A DUTCH ROLE IN 
THE POLITICAL AND RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS, AS WELL AS MORE 
INFORMATION ON U.S. VIEWS.  WE WOULD APPRECIATE GUIDANCE ON 
THE FOLLOWING POINTS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS 
OF THE CHARGE'S MEETING NOVEMBER 7: 
 
--  THE DUTCH BELIEVE THAT THE AFGHAN SUPPORT GROUP SHOULD BE 
THE FOCAL POINT FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND ASSISTANCE, RATHER 
THAN ANY NEW ORGANIZATION.  THEIR QUESTIONS:  DOES THE U.S. 
AGREE?  IS THE JAPAN-HOSTED EVENT AT UNGA BEING DONE IN THE 
CONTEXT OF THE AFGHAN SUPPORT GROUP?  IF NOT, WHAT ROLE DOES 
THE U.S. SEE FOR THE AFGHAN SUPPORT GROUP AND HOW WILL WE 
ENSURE EFFICIENT USE OF AID? 
 
-- THE DUTCH ASKED FOR U.S. VIEWS ON SRSG BRAHIMI'S PROPOSAL 
TO HOST A MEETING ON AFGHANISTAN'S FUTURE IN MECCA, SAUDI 
ARABIA.  THE MFA'S INITIAL, UNOFFICIAL REACTION IS THAT IT 
WAS AN INTERESTING IDEA BECAUSE IT COULD LEND AN "ISLAMIST" 
MANTLE TO A POLITICAL SOLUTION.  WHAT ARE U.S. VIEWS? 
 
-- WITH REGARD TO THE EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A POST-TALIBAN 
GOVERNMENT, THE DUTCH INDICATED THAT THERE HAD TO BE A ROLE 
FOR THE COUNTRIES THAT WOULD END UP FOOTING THE BILL.  ONE 
IDEA, NOT YET OFFICIAL DUTCH POLICY, IS TO PRESS THE U.S. TO 
EXPAND THE 6-PLUS-2 MECHANISM TO INCLUDE ENTITITES SUCH AS 
THE EU AND INDIA.  THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT/NOT TALKED ABOUT 
THIS YET WITH OTHER EU COUNTRIES.  PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT WE 
CAN SAY TO THE DUTCH ABOUT THE ROLE THEY COULD PLAY IN THE 
EFFORT TO DEVELOP A POST-TALIBAN GOVERNMENT. 
 
 
FENDRICK