US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE2802

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 002802 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PINR, EFIN, KCRM, TU, NL 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/PKK:  DUTCH DEMARCHED ON COMBATTING 
PKK SUPPORT 
 
REF: STATE 186669 
 
Classified By: ACTING DCM ANDREW SCHOFER FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D). 
 
1. (S) POLCOUNS delivered reftel demarche on reducing 
European support to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to Pim 
Dumore, Director of the Dutch MFA's Political Affairs 
Department, on October 13.  On October 14, POLCOUNS followed 
up with Fred Olthof, Director of the Dutch MFA's Office of 
New Threats and Challenges. 
 
2. (S) POLCOUNS stressed that reftel demarche reflected a 
high-level USG decision to strengthen transatlantic efforts 
to shut down the PKK in Europe.  He noted that we expected to 
approach European governments, including the GONL, shortly 
with specific proposals for enhancing cooperative 
intelligence, law enforcement, and/or diplomatic measures 
related to this effort. 
 
3. (S) Dumore and Olthof separately acknowledged that the PKK 
had not previously been a high priority for GONL 
counter-terrorism efforts.  Olthof noted that the Dutch 
generally had not viewed the PKK as a serious threat to Dutch 
or European interests given its primary focus on Turkey, even 
though it had been designated a terrorist organization. 
Olthof said he would pass the substance of the demarche to 
other relevant GONL agencies and ask them to start thinking 
about possible areas of cooperation. 
BLAKEMAN