US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE363

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000363 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KUNR, AORC, NL, UNSC, UNGA, KINR 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/UN REFORM:  DUTCH WILL PLAY IMPORTANT 
ROLE IN REFORM DEBATE 
 
REF: A. STATE 11141 
 
     B. STATE 21394 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b) a 
nd (d) 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  The Dutch are encouraging EU partners to 
remain flexible on the issue of UN reform in the run-up to 
the 2005 UNGA, according to Karel van Kesteren (MFA, UN 
Director) and his deputy, Pieter Ramaer.  The Dutch have come 
around to the view that a Democracy Caucus in UN fora could 
be useful in expanding debate, encouraging fresh thinking, 
and facilitating the formation of effective coalitions.  Van 
Kesteren said he was surprised that the the U.S. was not more 
active with regard to the UNSC expansion debate, considering 
that a Council as large as 24 could result in an ineffective 
body or one in which the U.S. wielded much less influence. 
On the budget, the Dutch are concerned about regularizing the 
sources of financing, which they now view as chaotic.  End 
Summary 
 
DUTCH HOPE TO AVOID PREMATURE EU POSITION ON REFORM 
 
2.  (C)  Poloff met Karel van Kesteren and his deputy, Pieter 
Ramaer on February 4 to discuss US and Dutch perspectives on 
UN reform during the run-up to the September 2005 UNGA.  Van 
Kesteren confirmed that the Dutch plan to pay an active role 
on this issue, particularly given the Dutch PermRep's role as 
a facilitator for the Millennium Review Summit and the fact 
that PM Balkenende is one of the 15 Heads of Government on 
the Mexico's "group of friends for the reform of the UN." 
Van Kesteren stressed, however, that the Dutch are currently 
advocating in EU counsels that the EU avoid agreeing a common 
position on the reform agenda now.  The Dutch argue that 
taking this approach would allow Member States more 
creativity in brainstorming and participating in preparatory 
meetings at the UN.  The Dutch MFA in The Hague has given 
latitude to the Mission in New York as it engages in 
preparatory meetings, he added.  Van Kesteren worried, 
however, that the whole reform debate was dominated by the 
"New York mafia" and stressed that a way should be found to 
break the issue free.   Poloff explained how the USG 
sometimes engages a targeted audience in specific capitals at 
crucial points in UN debates and asked how the EU operates in 
this regard.  Kesteren agreed that this could be one way for 
the EU and the Netherlands to approach the issue both in New 
York and overseas. 
 
DEMOCRACY CAUCUS - THINKING OUTSIDE THE BLOC 
 
3.  (C)  Having overcome initial resistance to the idea of a 
Democracy Caucus, the Dutch now see it as one form -- but 
certainly not the only one -- in which to advance the UN 
agenda in concert with the United States and other 
like-minded countries, van Kesteren said.  Like President 
Bush, the Dutch recognize a global movement toward democracy, 
which has been a core element of Dutch development policy for 
some time.  In general, the Dutch see the benefit of meeting 
in a format that crosses the borders of the five formal UN 
regional groups, not least because it encourages 
outside-the-bloc thinking.  Looking ahead to the preparatory 
process for the 60th UNGA, the Dutch seek inclusive formulas 
to involve countries like Egypt and India up front.  PermReps 
from such countries will be instrumental in bringing their 
own New York staffs, as well as their home ministries, along 
in a constructive manner in the reform debate, van Kesteren 
recognized. 
 
SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM 
 
4.  (C)  The Dutch fear a dynamic that will result in 
considerable UNSC expansion at the expense of effectiveness, 
van Kesteren said.  He admitted to being under the impression 
that the USG was taking a "surprisingly laid back approach" 
to this debate considering that a "Council of 24 would dilute 
America's influence" and the decision making dynamics.  "A 
weakened UNSC does not make a stronger UN," he said, adding 
with some disdain, "We do not want to make the UNSC more like 
ECOSOC."  The Dutch watch the G4 debate with interest, he 
said.  Adding that he saw the point of those arguing for one 
EU seat to replace Britain, France, and any other EU aspirant 
(Germany, Italy), he admitted this outcome was not likely in 
this latest round of reform discussions. 
 
BUDGET 
 
5.  (C)  The Dutch give the budget issue less priority than 
the issue of UN financing, which they view as "chaotic, 
unstable, and unpredictable," hence worthy of more serious 
consideration.  The interplay of assessed contributions, 
peacekeeping contributions, and voluntary contributions does 
not serve the larger purposes of the UN, van Kesteren argued, 
pointing for example to the contradiction between 
international obligations to care for refugees and the fact 
that the UN's refugee programs are funded in large part by 
voluntary, vice assessed, contributions. 
 
6.  (C)  With some caveats, the Dutch basically agree with 
the points we have raised (reftel a) in criticism of the 
Millennium Report, van Kesteren recalled, but for the USG 
rejection of a focus on increasing the levels of ODA. 
Development needs both an increase in ODA and an increase in 
the capital flows the USG prefers to emphasize, he argued. 
He agreed on the need for interested UN Member States to work 
together in major capitals of developing countries to 
continue promoting the benefits of funding besides ODA. 
 
7.  (U)  Dutch reaction to the points in reftel B (on the 
High Level Panel) will follow septel. 
 
8.  (U)  BIONOTE:  Karel van Kesteren has been appointed as 
the next Dutch Ambassador to Tanzania, a post he will take up 
this summer.  His replacement is K.P Rade, currently Dutch 
Ambassador to Nicaragua. 
SOBEL