US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE2845

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002845 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PGOV, KDEM, EAID, BO, NL, EUN 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/BELARUS:  DUTCH SUPPORT CIVIL SOCIETY 
IN BELARUS 
 
REF: STATE 188900 
 
Classified By: ACTING DCM ANDREW J. SCHOFER FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C)  SUMMARY:  The Dutch support promoting civil society 
in Belarus and are prepared to pursue this objective 
bilaterally.  At the same time, they do not want to appear 
out of step from an EU consensus, and in general prefer 
constructive engagement over isolation.  The Dutch recognize 
that relations with Russia will be a factor in determining 
the "robustness" of European approaches.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) On October 13, POLCOUNS discussed reftel points on 
promoting democracy and civil society in Belarus with Pim 
Dumore, Director of the Dutch MFA's Office of Political 
Affairs.  Dumore stressed that the Dutch are very supportive 
of promoting civil society in Belarus, but cautioned that the 
Dutch and other Europeans were not comfortable with overly 
"robust" programs aimed at changing the regime.  Dumore 
expressed frustration with the European approach since, in 
his view, only Lukashenko's departure from power would give 
the Belarusian people a real chance to determine their own 
future. 
 
3. (C) POLCOUNS asked how active the Dutch were prepared to 
be in Belarus bilaterally, as opposed to working through the 
EU.  Dumore responded that the Dutch were one of relatively 
few EU countries with the ability and will to provide 
assistance directly to NGO's inside Belarus.  In his last 
job, as Dutch Ambassadaor to Vilnius, Dumore had been 
personally involved in such efforts, some of which involved 
working through Polish or Lithuanian organization.  As far as 
possible, however, the Dutch would prefer not to be out of 
step with the EU.  Dumore noted that EU relations with Russia 
would naturally be a factor in determining EU policies toward 
Belarus. 
 
4. (C) On October 17, the Charge briefly raised Belarus in a 
meeting with Dutch MFA POLDIR Hugo Siblesz.  Siblesz shared 
Dumore's view that the EU had become "deadlocked" over how to 
handle Belarus.  None of the various approaches tried so far 
had been successful in moderating Lukashenko's behavior, he 
added.  Noting that Russian President Putin would visit the 
Netherlands in early November, Siblesz said Belarus would 
probably be on the agenda, but made clear he did not expect 
any breakthroughs. 
 
5. (C) Charge also raised reftel points with Renee Jones-Bos, 
MFA Director-General for Regional and Consular Affairs, on 
October 20.  Jones-Bos, a former Dutch Ambassador for Human 
Rights Affairs, confirmed that the Dutch actively supported 
promoting civil society in Belarus.  She noted that the Dutch 
had good relations with several NGO's in Belarus and provided 
support through the Dutch Embassy in Warsaw.  She added, 
however, that the Dutch and other Europeans preferred a 
policy of constructive engagement with Belarus to one of 
isolation. 
BLAKEMAN