US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE427

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000427 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/ERA FOR VOLKER AND BISHARAT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2015 
TAGS: KPAL, PREL, IR, UP, MD, SU, CG, SR, BK, NL 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/GAERC: DUTCH EXPECTATIONS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 25111 
 
Classified By: A/POL Nathaniel Dean for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  Preparing a positive agenda for the 
President's visit, the EU is actively seeking forward-looking 
ways to engage with the U.S. on a range of issues while the 
Luxembourg Presidency struggles to control an agenda where 25 
Heads of State/Foreign Ministers want a chance to speak.  The 
Dutch ask if the new U.S. money for Palestinian reform would 
be for contractors or for direct budget support. On Iraq, the 
Dutch press the EU to support missions dedicated to police 
training and rule of law; it is up to the Commission whether 
or not to open an office in Baghdad, not the GAERC (and the 
Netherlands wants to see such an EU outpost).  The Dutch 
continue to urge Croatia to surrender Gotovina before the EU 
opens accession talks.  Sudan action depends on the UNSC, 
where the Dutch hope to get a no-fly zone included in any 
UNSC resolution; failure to act on sanctions while continuing 
to discuss them could damage EU credibility. End Summary. 
 
 
TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS/PRESIDENT'S VISIT 
 
2.  (C)  Poloff met Adriaan Palm (MFA, Office of Political 
Affairs, EU Presidency Coordinator) February 14 to review 
reftel points.  Palm said the EU was actively seeking 
"positive and forward-looking ways to cooperate with the 
United States." As for the format of the Summit itself, the 
complication is that all Heads of State want to speak.  Palm 
said the Luxembourg Presidency was dividing up the agenda and 
it is unlikely all 25 will speak.  Dutch PM Balkenende is 
expected to address "terrorism."  At the Foreign Minister 
level, Palm said Luxembourg hopes to organize interventions 
but he could not promise that all 25 would not speak in that 
forum. 
 
3.  (C)  MEPP 
 
The Lux Presidency will attend the March 1 meeting but the 
Dutch have not been invited, Palm said.  He welcomed the $350 
million in new funds that the Administration has requested, 
and he asked "if it would be money going to USAID, hence to 
contractors, or could it go to direct budget support?" 
 
IRAQ 
 
4.  (C)  The Dutch are pushing for police training and rule 
of law missions in Iraq.  They want a positive decision at 
the GAERC so that the EU will have something positive to show 
at the Summit.  At this point, the Dutch want to support the 
Iraqi transition, Palm said, including finding ways to help 
in the drafting of the new Constitution.  While it is "too 
early to say what to expect out of the new government," Palm 
noted, "the Dutch hope they will form one quickly" since a 
vacuum would create dangerous opportunities for those wanting 
to disrupt the transition. 
 
5.  (C)  As for an "EU office" as called for in reftel, Palm 
observed that it is up to the EU Commission to decide whether 
to open an office or not.  He said the Dutch and other Member 
States have been pushing the Commission on this point already 
and it was not up to the GAERC to decide;  it is up to the 
Commission and the Iraqis. 
 
WESTERN BALKANS 
 
6.  (C)  On Croatia, the Dutch still favor the surrender of 
Gotovina as a prerequisite to opening accession talks with 
Croatia and they are making this point in EU councils, Palm 
said.  At the GAERC, the Dutch plan to repeat the same "firm 
message" they gave at the January GAERC, he added.  Palm 
asked what the USG would like to see come out of the upcoming 
Summit regarding Kosovo. 
 
EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY (UKRAINE/MOLDOVA) 
 
7.  (C)  Palm drew attention to an expected declaration on 
Moldova, which announces the EU will send observers there and 
appoint a Special Representative (likely at the March GAERC). 
 
SUDAN 
 
8.  (C)  The GAERC will continue trying to pressure the 
Rebels in Sudan, Palm said; the "EU is looking for sticks to 
use."  The Dutch want to see a no-fly zone included in any 
UNSC resolution and they expect the GAERC to discuss what 
measures can be taken in this regard.  The EU is still 
discussing sanctions, he noted, but if there is no action on 
them the Dutch fear the EU will start to lose credibility. 
On the ICC, Palm added that he did not expect the issue to 
arise before the President's visit (as it could be 
potentially embarrassing) but that he would expect movement 
thereafter. 
 
GREAT LAKES 
 
9.  (C)  The GAERC will examine three issues, Palm said:  a) 
strengthening the mandate of MONUC; c) using troops from the 
AU; (c)  finding ways to strengthen the Congolese army and 
reforming the security services. 
SOBEL