US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1675

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001675 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KMPI, KDEM, BA, NL 
SUBJECT: DUTCH WANT GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN FOUNDATION FOR 
THE FUTURE 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (SBU) November 11, 2005; 12 noon; Manama, Bahrain. 
 
2.  (SBU) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
A/S Dan Fried, EUR 
Blake Thorkelson, NEA/PI 
Richard Michaels, Notetaker 
 
The Netherlands 
Baroness Henriette van Lynden, MFA Director ) North Africa 
and Middle East 
Ambassador to Bahrain and Kuwait Dr. Cor van Honk 
 
 
3.  (C) Summary.  During a November 11 meeting with A/S Fried 
on the margins of the Forum for the Future in Bahrain, Dutch 
Baroness Henriette van Lynden, MFA Director ) North Africa 
and Middle East, reiterated GON support for the Foundation 
for the Future and expressed GON interest in playing a 
principal role in developing the NGO sector in the Middle 
East.  Van Lynden emphasized the need to recruit more Arab 
countries, such as Egypt and Oman, into the separate Fund for 
the Future in order for the institution to achieve its goals. 
 End summary. 
 
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Dutch Want Active Role in Developing NGO Sector 
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4.  (C) Dutch Baroness Henriette van Lynden told A/S Fried 
that the GON intends to play an active role in developing a 
Middle Eastern civil society, specifically in the Gulf. 
While North Africa is covered by the Barcelona Process, which 
she described as a stumbling baby, the GON is eyeing 
cooperative opportunities with Gulf states in the areas of 
democracy, rule of law, emancipation and entrepreneurship. 
"We want to be seen to be actively involved," such as the 
"modest" contribution the GON made to the Foundation for the 
Future, the Baroness explained. 
 
5.  (C) Van Lynden characterized the NGO sector in the Middle 
East as "quite weak" and in need of "propping up." She 
explained that these NGOs need to play a greater role in 
civil society and increase interaction with local 
governments.  The GON would like to focus on NGO development, 
leaving a "Dutch footprint" on its Foundation involvement. 
In fact, van Lynden is to join Prime Minister Jan Peter 
Balkenende November 12 to begin a visit to the UAE, Oman and 
Qatar to discuss civil society development, she reported. 
 
6.  (C) Baroness underscored the Foundation,s need to 
support a viable NGO sector allowed to communicate with the 
local government to achieve the institution,s objectives. 
She cited an October visit with the Gulf Research Council 
(GRC) in Dubai as an example.  The group, fully funded by a 
Saudi, functions as an NGO despite a UAE ban on such 
organizations, she explained.  The GRC, like many of her NGO 
contacts, is fatalistic toward prospects of these 
restrictions ending, van Lynden added.  In the Baroness, 
opinion, the Foundation should raise the awareness of the NGO 
issue. 
 
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Implementing the Foundation,s Objectives 
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7.  (C) Baroness also inquired about next steps after the 
Foundation for the Future,s announcement November 12.  A/S 
Fried identified the creation of a strong board of directors 
as a key to the Foundation,s success.  Van Lynden suggested 
contacting Dutch corporate sponsors such as Shell.  After 
reviewing a list of participating Middle East countries in 
the Foundation and Fund, Baroness described the involvement 
of Egypt and Oman, which have yet to join, as key to the 
institutions, success.  "It's not enough," she added, "you 
need critical mass."  A/S Fried offered to share the GON,s 
interest in Foundation and Fund implementation with NEA/DAS 
Carpenter. 
 
8.  (U) This message has been cleared by A/S Fried. 
 
MONROE