US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE1990

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001990 
 
SIPDIS 
 
IO/PSC - LMALENAS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KUNR, KPKO, NL, UNSC, UNGA, ECOSOC 
SUBJECT: PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION/NETHERLANDS: DUTCH OPEN 
TO ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF UNSC LEADERSHIP 
 
REF: A. STATE 130530 
 
     B. TRAUB/MALENAS TELECON JULY 14 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ACTING POLCOUNS NATHANIEL DEAN FOR REASONS 
 1.4 (B AND D) 
 
1.  (C)  Poloff met Welment van Aardenne (MFA, Senior Policy 
Advisor, UN department) to discuss reftel points (refs a and 
b) on July 14 and July 15.  Poloff emphasized both the 
anticipated strength of the USG's engagement in the upcoming 
discussions on establishing the Peacebuilding Commission 
(PBC) and our very firm intention to have the PBC established 
under the authority of the UNSC. 
 
2.  (C)  Van Aardenne said the Dutch had initially shared the 
U.S. view regarding the supremacy of the UNSC;  it seems they 
could be open to arguments to return to that view.  After 
measuring the "very strong NAM/G77 opposition in the UNGA to 
the UNSC taking the lead," the Dutch are - for now - 
supporting the current draft Annex to the Outcomes Document 
as a viable solution.  Moreover, she said the Dutch still 
have questions about how the PBC would pass its duties off to 
ECOSOC once the initial phase of peacebuilding was complete 
in a particular case. 
 
3.   (C)  She took pains to explain that the Dutch believe 
the draft Annex gives "the UNSC a very strong role." 
Pointing out that "strong role" and "leadership" are not the 
same thing, Poloff encouraged the Dutch to look again at the 
USG position, especially as it seems we agree in principle. 
Van Aardenne seemed sympathetic, noting that the Dutch also 
want the PBC "to be effective.  She added the Dutch would not 
welcome a PBC that "simply added another layer of bureaucracy 
at the UNGA."   She undertook to share the USG views with her 
director (Karel van Kesteren) and with the Dutch mission in 
New York.  She agreed to review the status of the 
negotiations with Poloff next week, if helpful. 
BLAKEMAN