US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE3302

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 003302 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UBI/HOLLIDAY 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEPT. OF ENERGY, MCSLARROW AND ORBACH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2014 
TAGS: PREL, TRGY, NL, EU 
SUBJECT: ITER: DUTCH HOPE TO MAINTAIN TALKS' MOMENTUM, 
JAPANESE FLEXIBILITY 
 
REF: SECSTATE 268243 
 
Classified By: Richard Huff, Economic Counselor for reasons 1.5 (B) and 
 (D) 
 
1. (U) On December 20 econ counselor and econ off delivered 
reftel demarche letter and talking points to Pim Fenger, 
Denise Heiligers and Joost Teverne, ITER policy advisors to 
Dutch Minister for Science van der Hoeven. 
 
2. (C) Fenger and Teverne stressed that the talks were at a 
critical moment.  On December 31 the EU presidency shifts to 
Luxembourg, who, in Teverne's words "speaks French better 
than Dutch."  Thus far the Luxembourgers have not asked the 
Dutch to hold competency for ITER when their presidency ends. 
 With ten days left, however, it was still possible to reach 
an agreement.  Teverne said his minister hoped the 
negotiations could sustain positive momentum. 
 
3. (C) Teverne said van der Hoeven had appreciated the good 
communications with the U.S. side.  There was 
"disappointment," however, at perceived Japanese stalling. 
Furthermore, the Japanese proposal for dedicated procurement 
for the non-host country had not resonated with EU member 
states.  The Dutch feel Minister van der Hoeven had delivered 
on her promise to preserve the six-party framework during her 
country's presidency, and requested that U.S. negotiators 
press the Japanese to remain flexible in negotiations. 
 
4. (C) Minister van der Hoeven will talk with Japanese 
Minister for Technology Nakayama on Tuesday, December 21. 
The call comes at the Japanese minister's request.  Our 
interlocutors did not know what Nakayama would say, but said 
van der Hoeven was very interested in the Japanese official's 
message. 
SOBEL