US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE1941

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001941 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2015 
TAGS: EAID, LE, PREL, SY, TU, UZ, NL, UN 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/GAERC: DUTCH EXPECTATIONS 
 
REF: STATE 124856 
 
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Nathaniel Dean for reasons 1. 
4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  Responding to reftel, the Dutch MFA was 
prickly in response to the suggestion there be no "package 
approach" to UN reform.  The Dutch thought Syria was 
improving its behavior in Lebanon in response to 
international pressure and suggested they are doing their 
best under the circumstances.  The Dutch agreed generally 
with USG positions on  Turkey, Iran and Uzbekistan.  After 
noticing there were no points on Zimbabwe and the Middle 
East, the Dutch noted that the EU approach to Gaza withdrawal 
will be discussed at the GAERC.  End Summary. 
 
UNGA OUTCOMES: WOULD THE USG VETO A PACKAGE DEAL? 
 
2.  (C)  Poloff delivered reftel points to Adriaan Palm (MFA, 
Deputy European Correspondent) on July 7 and reaffirmed that 
the USG does not favor a package deal approach to UN reform 
at the HLE.  Palm resisted, stating that failure in New York 
in September "would be a bad idea."  He floated the notion 
that a reform package might be sustainable if it explicitly 
excluded the issue of UN Security Council reform.  He asked 
if the USG would veto a package if one were to appear at the 
HLE, to which Poloff replied that the USG always negotiates 
in good faith. 
 
SYRIA/LEBANON: GIVE THE SYRIANS CREDIT FOR EFFORTS MADE 
 
3. (C) Palm questioned reftel points on Syrian intelligence 
operatives in Lebanon, stating, "The Israelis have them and 
the Americans have them there," implying that the Syrians 
should have the right to post intelligence operatives as 
well.  Poloff countered that Syrian agents were determined to 
destabilize Lebanon.  Palm argued that the EU and Syria had 
invested resources to patrol the Syria/Iraq border and 
pointedly asked if the Iraqis and Americans were doing all 
they could on the other side.  (He implied the border could 
be better controlled were there visa requirements for 
nationals' travel between Iraq and Syria.)  Acknowledging 
that Syria had fortified its border security in response to 
international pressure, he warned against the West applying 
too much pressure in Damascus lest "the pressure cooker 
explode." 
 
TURKEY: TIGHT EU SCHEDULE LEAVES LITTLE TIME FOR MANEUVERING 
 
4.  (C)  Quoting "pacta sunt servanda," Palm impatiently 
cautioned that Turkey must fulfill its own obligations taken 
under the December 17 deal.  The British Presidency schedule 
had left little time to finalize the accession negotiation 
plans.  He complained that the July GAERC could be the last 
formal meeting empowered to take decisions until the October 
3 GAERC, which the British double-booked with the first 
Turkey/EU meeting.  There is no September GAERC, but the 
informal Gymnich that month could conclude accession program 
plans as an "A" point to present for adoption on October 3, 
Palm nervously surmised.  He added that, by tradition, the EU 
holds a GAERC in September on the margins of the New York 
UNGA, where the plans for Turkey could be tweaked. 
 
US/EU POLICY ON IRAN STILL TRACKING 
 
5. (C)  Palm agreed with the points on Iran. 
 
UZBEKISTAN: RATCHETING UP THE EU RESPONSE 
 
6. (C)  Palm wanted to reassure the USG that the EU will take 
measures to address the issue of Uzbekistan,s passed 
deadline on establishing a credible, transparent and 
independent investigation of the Andijon incident.  He said 
that "real action is needed," and suggested the EU would take 
a gradual approach, starting by targeting restrictions on the 
leadership.  The EU would discuss graduated sanctions 
including suspension of the Uzbek-EU agreement.  At the same 
time, Palm asked if the USG did not want to take a tougher 
stance on Uzbekistan though it might conflict with our 
cooperation with the Uzbeks on the war in terror. 
 
DUTCH LOOKED FOR POINTS ON ZIMBABWE AND THE MIDDLE EAST 
 
7. (C) Palm was openly surprised that there were no talking 
points on Zimbabwe or the Middle East.  He mentioned that the 
EU approach to Gaza withdrawal will be discussed at the GAERC. 
BLAKEMAN