US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE2556

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002556 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR/PPD, AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2015 
TAGS: KPAO, AO, NL, PBTS, XA, PREL 
SUBJECT: BEMBE EXTRADITION DEMARCHE DELIVERED 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 171983 
     B. THE HAGUE 2515 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Chat Blakeman for Reason 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: According to Renee Jones-Bos, Director 
General for Regional and Consular Affairs at the Dutch MFA, 
the MFA expects to limit its role in the Bembe extradition to 
responding to specific questions posed by the court during 
Bembe's September 13 hearing and will not take a political 
position with regard to the proceedings.  Jones-Bos 
reiterated, however, that the Dutch Embassy in Angola 
considers Bembe a valued partner in the peace discussions. 
She noted that Bembe's arrest in the Hague had put the MFA in 
an awkward position.  Jones-Bos asked whether the U.S. would 
consider reevaluating its extradition request in the context 
of "more important" issues; Charge stressed this was not an 
option, as our demarche made clear.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) On September 20, Charge met with Renee Jones-Bos, 
Director General for Regional and Consular Affairs, to 
deliver ref. A points on the Bembe extradition.  Charge noted 
the U.S. views the case as an issue for the judicial system, 
and would like to see it played out in the courts, not in the 
political arena or in the press.  Jones-Bos agreed, and said 
the MFA "would not meddle in the legal procedures" and would 
limit its involvement to responding directly to specific 
questions raised during Bembe's September 13 hearing (ref. 
B).  She did not expect the MFA, as an institution, to take a 
political position with regard to the case.  Jones-Bos said 
she would advise us in advance if that changed. 
 
3.  (C) Jones-Bos noted, however, that Bembe's arrest had put 
the MFA in an "awkward position" for two reasons.  First, the 
MFA granted Bembe a visa to enter the Netherlands at the 
request of Kredaa, a Dutch NGO involved in Cabindan peace 
negotiations with Angola.  The visit of Bembe, considered by 
the Dutch Embassy in Angola to be a key player in the 
negotiations, "suited the general purposes of (Dutch) foreign 
policy."  Second, Jones-Bos intimated that Bembe's arrest at 
the Peace Palace had embarrassed the MFA because of the 
building's symbolic status as a center for international 
peace efforts.  Charge responded by noting that the 
Netherlands risked earning a very different reputation if it 
harbored fugitives or failed to fulfill its treaty 
obligations. 
 
4.  (C) In response to a pointed query by Jones-Bos into the 
case's significance to the U.S., Charge said the extradition 
of Bembe, a wanted criminal, is important to the USG.  Jones 
asked whether there was a chance the U.S. would put the case 
aside in the context of other "more important" matters. 
Charge stressed that this was not an option. 
BLAKEMAN