US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE2587

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 002587 
 
SIPDIS 
 
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES BLAKEMAN FOR EUR A/S DAN FRIED, P, R, E 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2015 
TAGS: PREL, NL, EUN 
SUBJECT: DUTCH MINISTER NICOLAI'S UPCOMING VISIT TO U.S. 
 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES CHAT BLAKEMAN FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND ( 
D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  Dutch Minister for European Affairs Atzo 
Nicolai views his first visit to the U.S. as an opportunity 
to strengthen transatlantic ties by cultivating a solid 
working relationship with senior USG interlocutors.  A 
consummate European insider and political survivor, Nicolai 
could be a powerful ally in promoting U.S. interests in 
Europe, including with regard to Turkish EU accession talks 
and efforts to reach out to European Muslims.  Post 
recommends that the Department support Dutch requests for 
high-level introductory meetings for Nicolai with P, R, and 
E.  END SUMMARY. 
 
BUILDING A TRANSATLANTIC FUTURE 
------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) During a September 19 meeting with Charge, State 
Secretary (Minister) For European Affairs Atzo Nicolai said 
 
SIPDIS 
that he hopes to use his upcoming trip to the United States 
to explore opportunities for reinvigorating transatlantic 
dialogue and cooperation.  Nicolai said this would be his 
first trip to the United States, noting that his duties 
during the Dutch EU presidency last year and then supervising 
the Dutch referendum on the EU's constitutional treaty had 
limited his ability to travel.  His experiences during this 
period, however, had reinforced his belief in the critical 
importance of the transatlantic relationship in defining 
Europe's future.  On issues ranging from Turkey to Ukraine, 
he said, it was clear that the U.S. and European interests 
were linked.  Nicolai noted that he would be giving at least 
two speeches during his visit to Washington on the "Future of 
Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship." 
 
EUROPEAN ENLARGEMENT/INTEGRATION 
-------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Nicolai said he was eager to learn first-hand U.S. 
views on European integration and enlargement.  The Dutch 
"no" vote on the EU's Constitutional Treaty, he added, had 
thrown a lot of long-standing Dutch and European assumptions 
on their head.  The Dutch are now starting to engage in a 
"national dialogue" on Europe -- a project Nicolai will 
oversee -- but neither the government nor the public has a 
clear idea where it will lead.  The answer will have serious 
implications not only for the EU, but also for the 
transatlantic relationship and specifically relations between 
the EU and NATO.  Nicolai reiterated that he wanted to make 
sure he understood clearly U.S. views before proceeding too 
far with the "national dialogue."  Noting that the referendum 
had painfully exposed a gap between the Dutch public and the 
political elite, he said he would also appreciate learning 
more about how the U.S. government effectively communicated 
its vision at home and abroad. 
 
WHAT TO DO ABOUT TURKEY? 
------------------------ 
 
4. (C) Noting that he planned to arrive in the U.S. on 
October 4, Nicolai said he assumed Washington interlocutors 
would be interested in discussing the implications of the 
EU's October 3 decision on Turkey -- whatever that might turn 
out to be.  Nicolai praised the U.S. for its quiet, but 
essential diplomacy during the Dutch EU presidency to help 
bring Turkey to the table, but noted that subsequent events 
had put the entire process in doubt.  Coordination between 
the U.S. and the EU will remain critical both in the period 
leading up to October 3 and in managing its aftermath, he 
added. 
 
REACHING OUT TO MUSLIMS 
----------------------- 
 
5. (C) Turning to the "cultural" side of his visit (Note: 
Nicolai's portfolio includes international cultural 
affairs.),  Nicolai said that he was particularly interested 
in looking at creative ways to use culture to improve the 
image of "the West" in the Islamic world. The Foreign 
Ministry, he added, is considering establishing a 
"Mediterranean Center" in the Netherlands, along the lines of 
the L'Institute du Monde Arabe, to promote cultural 
interactions with Muslims.  While this plan is in an early 
stage, he would be eager to explore with Washington 
interlocutors ideas for enhancing U.S.-European efforts to 
reach out to Muslims in Europe and elsewhere.  Pointing to 
the USG's active outreach program, Charge agreed that this 
was an area where the U.S. and the Dutch could benefit from a 
candid discussion of our positive and negative experiences to 
date, and where we might find some creative ways to join 
forces. 
 
COMMENT: 
------- 
 
6. (C) Although frequently overshadowed by Foreign Minister 
Bot and Development Minister van Ardenne, Nicolai is a key 
player in the Dutch government on European Integration issues 
and a true political survivor.  Many observers predicted he 
would take the fall for the government's disastrous EU 
Constitutional Treaty referendum, but he managed to accept 
responsibility for the fiasco before parliament while keeping 
his credibility and reputation intact, and very possibly 
enhanced.  After focusing almost exclusively on internal EU 
developments for the past year, his decision to seek out a 
working relationship with the USG is a late, but welcome 
development.  As a consummate European insider, he could be a 
powerful ally in promoting both our transatlantic agenda and 
Muslim outreach efforts in Europe.  We should not let this 
opportunity to cultivate a potentially useful contact slip 
away.  Post understands that a meeting with EUR A/S Fried is 
already on Nicolai's schedule; we recommend that Washington 
also support Dutch requests for other requested high-level 
introductory visits, including with P, R, and E.  END 
COMMENT. 
. 
 
 
BLAKEMAN