US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE2557

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NEW DUTCH MFA SECTION: TERRORISM AND NEW THREATS

Identifier: 05THEHAGUE2557
Wikileaks: View 05THEHAGUE2557 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy The Hague
Created: 2005-09-20 16:59:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags: PREL PTER NL
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

201659Z Sep 05
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002557 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR,PGI, S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, NL 
SUBJECT: NEW DUTCH MFA SECTION: TERRORISM AND NEW THREATS 
 
 
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  PLEASE HANDLE 
ACCORDINGLY. 
 
1. (SBU)  The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has 
created a "Terrorism and New Threats" unit within the 
Department of Political Affairs.  According to Fred Olthof, 
the newly-designated head of the unit, the reorganization is 
intended to consolidate into one office several 
counter-terrorism and transnational crime portfolios 
(including trafficking-in-persons and international organized 
crime) previously spread throughout the MFA.  Olthof told 
emboffs on September 9 that the new section has six full-time 
employees, most with experience in counter-terrorism.  He 
said the unit's prime purpose will be to act as a 
"knowledge-broker" to ensure that information related to 
terrorism and international crime is properly shared within 
the MFA and between the MFA and other institutions in the 
Netherlands and abroad. 
 
2. (SBU)  Olthof made clear that he and his unit were still 
in the process of defining their responsibilities and focus. 
As the MFA is not an intelligence or law enforcement 
organization, he expected to work mainly on promoting 
international political cooperation in combating terrorism 
and transnational crime.  Improving counter-terrorist 
cooperation within the EU and between the EU and others would 
be a high priority.  For example, Olthof observed that the 
Dutch experience with North African immigrants would be 
useful in developing projects with Morocco and Algeria 
focusing on reducing radicalization and recruitment. 
 
3. (SBU) Emboffs provided a copy of the 2004 Country Reports 
on Terrorism to Olthof and briefed generally on the 
organization and responsibilities of S/CT.  Olthof was not 
familiar with S/CT and expressed interest in learning more 
about how the State Department handled counter-terrorism and 
transnational crime. 
 
 
 
BLAKEMAN 

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